U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says Washington will remain committed to Asia, no matter who is in the White House.
Gates told a high-level security forum, the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore Saturday that the United States would be even further engaged in Asia in the future.
Some Asian allies have raised doubts over U.S. leadership in the region, which comes as China continues its military build-up.
Gates said dismissed concerns that Iraq and Afghanistan have distracted the U.S from Asia, saying Washington has never been engaged with more Asian countries.
Gates said any future U.S. administration's Asia policies will be grounded in the fact that the United States remains a nation with strong and enduring interests in the region.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
