US commitment to Asia strong despite Washington crisis: Kerry

Nusa Dua (Indonesia) (AFP) - The United States' commitment to Asia is as strong as ever, Secretary of State John Kerry said Saturday after President Barack Obama cancelled his trip to the region due to the crisis in Washington.

?Let me be clear, none of what is happening (in Washington) diminishes one iota our commitment to our partners in Asia," Kerry told journalists at the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Indonesia's Bali.

Kerry also warned a prolonged political crisis in Washington could weaken the United States globally.

"If it were prolonged, or repeated, people would begin to question the willingness of the United States to stay the course and its ability to, but that?s not the case and I don?t think it will be the case,? he told journalists.