Policy & Strategy

The tougher approach includes the possible sale of fighter jets to Taiwan and the reported sheltering of a Chinese dissident.

President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, both facing electoral pressures at home, steered clear of controversial trade and military announcements during a joint press conference Monday, focusing instead on their long-term partnership.

"I'm proud to announce that we have agreed to a new joint vision to guide our alliance and help shape the Asia-Pacific for decades to come," Obama said. "This is part of the broader effort I discussed in Australia last year in which the United States is once again leading in the Asia-Pacific."

Noda's visit, the first by a Japanese leader since February 2009, was preceded by last week's announcement that the two countries have agreed to relocate 9,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam and other bases. That agreement leaves unresolved, however, the long-term fate of Okinawa's Futenma air base and the 10,000 Marines who are still stationed there.

Top counterterrorism official says documents seized from compound show terror leader depressed by group's setbacks.

The possibility of future Islamabad-Washington cooperation in Afghanistan has grown dimmer in the aftermath of Sunday's U.S. airstrike.

Iran has labeled the U.S. military’s decision last week to send F-22 Raptors to an air base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) a “plot” by the United States and Israel to create regional instability.

Iranian Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi said Monday the move would undermine the security of the region, according to the semi-official FARS News Agency.

Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) on Monday called it “wrong” for President Obama’s campaign to “dwell” on the successful raid last year that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.

“I from the start said President Obama as president had a tough decision to make and he made it. I give him full credit for that,” King, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told conservative Laura Ingraham on her radio show.

“He’s entitled to mention it in the campaign in a quick way. ... make it one sentence,” King continued. “To be dwelling on it, to be somehow saying Obama did it and [Mitt] Romney wouldn’t, is wrong.”

The move could further raise tensions with China ahead of Clinton and Geithner's trip there this week.

The top counter-terrorism advisor said Obama will balance support for an escaped Chinese dissident and the need to maintain relations.

The top Obama adviser defended an ad suggesting Romney would not have launched the raid to capture bin Laden.

Romney called on Obama to protect a human-rights activist believed to have sought protection at the American embassy.