Obama tells Asia US 'here to stay' as Pacific power

President Barack Obama announced on Thursday that the US military would expand its role in the Asia-Pacific region, despite budget cuts, declaring America was "here to stay" as a Pacific power which would help shape the region's future.

China has voiced misgivings about Obama's announcement of fresh troop deployments to Australia and has longstanding fears that its growing power could be hobbled by US influence. But Beijing has also stressed that conflict is in nobody's interest. (Reuters)