Senator Jim Webb's East Asia Trip: Record of Activities and Achievements
Press Release
From April 16 to 29, U.S. Senator Jim Webb visited Korea, Vietnam, Guam, Okinawa, and Japan to meet with government officials, U.S. diplomats and military commanders, business leaders, and members of the local communities. This visit is one of several recurring visits to East and Southeast Asia by Senator Webb during his time in the U.S. Senate to reinforce American diplomacy in the region and expand our diplomatic and security relationships.
As chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee and chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, Senator Webb conducted this visit to review the proposed relocation and consolidation of U.S. military forces in the region, to examine U.S. national security and foreign policy toward East and Southeast Asia, and to reinforce efforts to protect Southeast Asia's natural resources, especially its water resources. Additionally on this visit, Senator Webb, joined by Senator Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, expressed condolences to the people of Japan and Japanese government officials for the loss of life and devastation resulting from last month's earthquake and tsunami. They reiterated the U.S. commitment to continue to cooperate with Japan in the country's reconstruction and recovery.
Senator Webb's continuous involvement in this region long predates his time in the Senate. He has worked and traveled throughout East Asia and Southeast Asia for more than four decades--as a Marine Corps Officer, a defense planner, a journalist, a novelist, a senior official in the Department of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, and as a business consultant.
Photos from the trip are available for publication here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/senatorwebb/sets/72157626593049442/
To read more about Senator Webb's background in the region, visit: http://webb.senate.gov/issuesandlegislation/foreignpolicy/East_Asia.cfm
Key Meetings and Activities
Korea
* President of the Republic of Korea
* Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea
* Trade Minister of the Republic of Korea
* Defense Minister of the Republic of Korea
* Key National Assembly Members for foreign policy and national security affairs
* U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
* U.S. military commander of U.S. Forces Korea and other key military officials
Vietnam
* Standing Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Secretary, considered to be the future President of Vietnam
* Chairman of the Government Office and Member of the Politburo
* Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly with responsibility for national security affairs
* Deputy Minister of Science and Technology with responsibility for energy security and natural sciences policy
* Deputy Minister of National Resources and Environment with responsibility for natural resources and water management
* Director-General of Vietnam National Mekong Committee, representative of Vietnam to the Lower Mekong Commission
* Director of Southern Institute for Water Resources Planning
* American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam
* Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
* Leaders of the Catholic Church in Saigon
* U.S. Charge d'Affaires to Vietnam
* U.S. Consul General in Saigon
Guam and Tinian
* Governor of Guam
* Legislature of Guam
* Ranking U.S. military officials with responsibility for implementation of the relocation of U.S. Marines to Guam
* Congressional delegate from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas
* Mayor of Tinian and other local officials
Japan
* Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Minister of Defense
* Chief Cabinet Secretary
* Governor of Okinawa
* Chairman of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly
* Mayors of towns in Okinawa hosting U.S. military bases and local business leaders
* Ranking U.S. military officials for U.S. Forces Japan
* Ranking U.S. Marine Corps officials on Okinawa with responsibility for the relocation of Marines to Guam and the relocation of MCAS Futenma to Camp Schwab
* Commanding general of Japan's Northeastern Self-Defense Forces and the Joint Task Force for earthquake recovery
Meetings on Foreign Relations
Korea
* Met with the President of the Republic of Korea to reinforce the U.S. commitment to the bilateral security alliance and relationship; discussed how U.S.-Korea cooperation can strengthen the regional balance and promote regional economic prosperity
* With regard to the passage of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, met with the Minister of Trade and members of the Korean National Assembly to discuss the importance of the timing and process in passing this agreement
* Met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and discussed the regional impact of the earthquake in Japan, and the regional security balance
* Met with the Minister of Defense to discuss the security situation on the Korean peninsula following the Cheonan attack and the attack on Yeonpyeong Island last year, and the role that China ought to play in supporting an international response to these unprovoked attacks
Vietnam
* Met with the Standing Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam Secretariat and a Minister in the Office of Government, who is also a member of the Politburo, to discuss U.S.-Vietnam relations and the importance of creating a meaningful reconciliation between the Vietnamese American community in the United States and those that remain in Vietnam today
* Met with the Standing Deputy Foreign Minister, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, the Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment, and the Director-General of the Vietnam National Mekong Committee to discuss water security in the Mekong River Delta and along the Red River Basin in Vietnam; emphasized the importance of bringing all riparian countries along these rivers together, including China, to protect and promote better management of these water resources
* Also, in meeting with the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, discussed energy security in Vietnam, including the potential for a nuclear energy cooperation agreement (a 123 agreement) between the United States and Vietnam
* Toured a water treatment facility in Saigon that operates using American technology, and discussed the impact of rising salinity levels in the Mekong River Delta on the availability of fresh water for consumption
* Met with young Vietnamese diplomats, researchers, and lecturers at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam to discuss the importance of U.S.-Vietnam relations, and U.S.-Vietnam cooperation in regional affairs, such as the sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea
* Met with the newly appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States
* Met with local Catholic church leaders in Saigon and reiterated support for religious freedom and the protection of individual rights in Vietnam
* Toured the U.S. Consulate in Saigon, met with local employees, and examined consular activities in Saigon, including the issue of child adoptions in Vietnam
Japan
* Toured areas affected by the March earthquake and tsunami and expressed condolences to the people of Japan for this tragedy
* Met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chief Cabinet Secretary to discuss the U.S.-Japan relationship and efforts to assist Japan in its recovery
Meetings on Defense and National Security Affairs
Korea
* Met with Minister of Defense and other top national security and defense officials to discuss the importance of the U.S.-Korea security alliance and national security issues of mutual interest
* In meeting with the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, reviewed U.S.-Korea military cooperation, the status of the U.S. security posture in Korea, and the realignment of U.S. forces in Korea including provisions of the Strategic Alliance 2015 and plans for the normalization of personnel assignments
* Visited the headquarters of U.S. Forces Korea at Yongsan and then toured Camp Humphreys, the proposed site of the Yongsan base relocation; conducted aerial orientation flight of the planned expansion of Camp Humphreys
* Met with U.S. Army enlisted personnel from Virginia who are assigned at Camp Humphreys to hear their views on their current assignments, quality of life, training, and other issues
Vietnam
* Met with Standing Secretary of the Communist Party Secretary and senior National Assembly members responsible for national security to discuss U.S.-Vietnam relations and the opportunity to move forward on issues of mutual security interest, including sovereignty issues in the South China Sea, expanding military exchanges, developing trust in U.S.-Vietnam military relations, and fostering reconciliation among military veterans
Guam and Tinian
* Met with speaker and members of the Guam Legislature to exchange views on U.S. realignment of forces on Guam, the Department of Defense's "One Guam" approach to address the socio-economic impact of the increased U.S. military presence, military construction projects, and associated issues
* Met with the Governor and Deputy Governor of Guam to discuss the realignment of forces on Okinawa and Guam
* Met with the Mayor of Tinian and Congressional Delegate for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) to discuss potential future use of Tinian as training site for U.S. military
* Met with top U.S. Navy and Air Force commanders on Guam for briefings and discussions relating to U.S relocation of forces to Guam, military construction projects, socio-economic effects of the expanded U.S. military presence and related issues
* Visited U.S. military installations on Guam, conducted aerial orientation flight of both Guam and Tinian, and visited potential future sites for U.S military training on Tinian
Japan
* Met with the Minister of Defense to discuss U.S.-Japan military cooperation during the recent disaster relief efforts, and to discuss the U.S.-Japan security alliance
* Met with the Governor of Okinawa, the Prefectural Assembly Chairman, and local leaders to hear local views on the issue of the relocation of MCAS Futenma on the island
* Met with top U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force commanders on Okinawa, toured U.S. military facilities and installations, and examined the current plans for relocating MCAS Futenma to Camp Schwab
* Met with Marines who are currently based at Camp Schwab to hear their views on the assignment, quality of life, and other issues
* Met with U.S. Air Force personnel on Kadena Air Base and toured installation
* Met with Japan Self-Defense Force commanders directing recovery efforts in earthquake and tsunami-affected areas; toured areas with military officials to observe U.S.-Japan bilateral projects for reconstruction and recovery
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