Over the last 20 years, the United States has contributed over 100 million dollars to support unexploded ordnance clearance programmes, which have helped reduce casualties from over 300 per year to fewer than 50.
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Still, he offered no apologies, calling the campaign and its aftermath reminders that “whatever the cause, whatever our intentions, war inflicts a awful toll”. “Given our history here, the U.S.has a moral obligation to help Laos heal”, Obama said.
The money Obama pledged today will be spent surveying the Asian nation for some 80 million unexploded cluster bombs dropped during a secret USA bombing campaign as part of the Vietnam War 40 years ago.
The bombing left behind deep scars, millions of unexploded cluster bombs across the countryside and decades-worth of cleanup.
But perhaps Duterte’s aides realized it would be unwise to take on the most powerful official in the world, and that there would be a price to pay for insulting the president of the United States. In return, the Lao government pledged to ramp up assistance in locating and returning remains of Americans missing in war. Obama is the first sitting US president to visit the Southeast Asian country.
“At the time, the US government did not acknowledge America’s role”.
Obama’s project – dubbed his Asia pivot – has yielded uneven results, as conflict in the Middle East has continued to demand attention and China has bristled at what it views as meddling in its backyard. “But I have seen some of those colorful statements in the past”, Obama said referring to Duterte.
He said in a speech as the summit got under way that his push to make the United States a key player in Asia-Pacific was not some “passing fad”. “Our positon is stronger and we’ve sent a clear message that as a Pacific nation, we are here to stay”. He touted new military aid and USA support for regional cooperation in addressing maritime disputes.
China sparked widespread alarm when it converted seven reefs in the Spratly Islands into islands that the United States says could be transformed into military bases to reinforce Beijing’s territorial claims and intimidate rival claimant countries.
“We believe that bigger nations should not dictate to smaller nations and that all nations should play by the same rules”, he said.
A secret, nine-year USA bombing campaign aimed at blocking supplies to Vietnam and fighting communist forces in northern Laos left tens of millions of unexploded bombs in the countryside.
Numerous bombings sought to cut off supplies to Vietnam, even though officially Laos was neutral in the Vietnam War.
The pair had been due to meet in the Lao capital of Vientiane at a gathering organised by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, an annual event meant to foster harmony but which often highlights regional rows.
President Barack Obama has canceled a planned meeting with the President of Phillipined, Rodrigo Duterte.
The flap over Duterte’s remarks started when a reporter asked him how he intends to explain the extrajudicial killings of drug dealers to Obama.
After Washington called off Tuesday’s bilateral meeting between Obama and Duterte in response, the Philippines issued two statements expressing regret.
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“We look forward to ironing out differences arising out of national priorities and perceptions, and working in mutually responsible ways for both countries”, the statement said.
