SINGAPORE, December 2, Reuters -- Threats and coercion by China toward Taiwan increase the need for the United States to help Taiwan maintain a credible self-defense, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, said on Thursday.
As a secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink, speaking in Singapore during a visit to Southeast Asia, said the U.S. has a rock solid commitment to help Taiwan.
As the People's Republic of China increases, I think we need to respond in an appropriate way," Kritenbrink told reporters in Singapore, specifically citing support over self-defence and trade.
He said that we intend to live up to our obligations, our rock solid obligations and commitments.
Kritenbrink said he had spoken to counterparts in Malaysia about the country doing more to enforce laws it has in place to combat human trafficking and labour abuses.
He said that Malaysia needs to do more to protect victims and crack down on traffickers.
The U.S. State Department downgraded Malaysia to the worst ranking in its human traffickers watchlist this year.
In the last two years, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has banned six Malaysian firms, including rubber glove makers and palm oil producers, from selling their products to the United States after finding evidence of forced labour.
Kritenbrink said he had spoken to Southeast Asian leaders about putting more pressure on the military junta in Myanmar, but he didn't go into specifics.