Underscoring the importance of President Donald Trump’s upcoming Pacific visit, “the countries of East Asia want the United States actively engaged” as Beijing increasingly flexes its economic and military power in the Pacific, Australia’s former defense secretary and ambassador to the United States said on Monday. Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dennis Richardson said, “I don’t see China being able to replace the United States as [Australia’s] number one security partner despite China’s position as Canberra’s largest trading partner. Even with that being the case, he added the United States continues to be Australia’s largest economic … Continue reading Former Aussie Diplomat: Most of Southeast Asia Looking to U.S. to Balance Beijing in Maritime Realm