U.S. exerts fresh pressure on China in Asia Pacific

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http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/11/19/uk-asia-summit-idUKTRE7AI04Z20111119

Reuters) - President Barack Obama exerted fresh pressure on China on Saturday over a range of sensitive issues, from Beijing's currency policies to dealing with territorial disputes in the South China Sea, as he reasserted U.S. presence in the region.

In a major diplomatic push, Obama has moved to open up new trade ties with the fastest-growing region in the world while increasing U.S. military presence, to counter the growing clout of China, the world's second-largest economy.

Obama underlined in talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao U.S. concerns about long-festering economic issues, such as China's currency policy. U.S. lawmakers have long argued Beijing keeps the value of the yuan down to help drive the country's exports engine, a stance they say costs American jobs.

He also raised the thorny issue of how to resolve competing claims by Asian countries, including China, to the sovereignty of the South China Sea, the latest point of friction between the two countries.