Officials said Panetta will repeat a refrain in each place. He will say that the United States military has helped Asia stabilize and grow, and the Pentagon intends to keep it that way.

In Vietnam, Panetta will thank leaders for recovering the remains of Americans missing in action.

It's not clear whether he will meet with Chinese officials this time but he plans to visit China later this year.

Panetta told Navy grads earlier this week: America's future depends on its ability to advance peace and security in Asia.

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