Delays costing lives, Gates says

SINGAPORE (AP) — Myanmar's obstruction of international efforts to help cyclone victims cost "tens of thousands of lives," Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Saturday, reflecting the widespread frustration with the military government there.

With U.S. ships off the coast of Myanmar poised to leave because they have been blocked from delivering assistance to the ravaged country, Gates said the U.S. will continue to try to get aid in. In a speech to the annual Shangri-la conference on international security, he said the U.S. has not had problems helping other countries in natural disasters while still respecting their sovereignty.

With Myanmar, he said, "the situation has been very different — at a cost of tens of thousands of lives. Many other countries besides the United States also have felt hindered in their efforts."

The growing displeasure with the Myanmar government has permeated the conference, coming up in nearly all conversations between leaders from around the world. Military officials have indicated that they are about to withdraw the U.S. Navy ships within days, since it does not appear that the Myanmar government will change its mind and allow the vessels to unload their supplies.

In a wide-ranging speech, Gates also looked ahead to the next White House administration, saying the new U.S. president will inherit the worrisome issue of North Korea's nuclear ambitions but will continue America's enduring commitment to Asia.

While he said he could not make specific policy predictions for the next administration, Gates told the annual Shangri-la conference on international security that there will be "no change in our drive to temper North Korea's ambitions, a policy not possible without China's valued cooperation."

And despite the often divergent views of the Republican and Democratic candidates, Gates said he is confident that the strong U.S. ties to Asia will continue "no matter which political party occupies the White House next year."

"Any speculation in the region about the United States losing interest in Asia strikes me as either preposterous, or disingenuous, or both," he said.

The reference to China was one of several in a speech that sounded two distinct tones on the communist giant — at times extending a friendly hand and at others offering a subtle but somber warning.

He first noted that relations with China have improved, and that leaders have begun a series of discussions on issues to "help us understand one another better, and to avoid possible misunderstanding."