-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The United States should use the `` utmost caution '' as it makes the Asia-Pacific region a key focus of its newly announced military strategy , China 's state-run Xinhua news agency said in a commentary published Friday . On Thursday , President Barack Obama and top defense officials unveiled a new U.S. defense strategy that focuses heavily on the Asia-Pacific region , a fast-growing economic powerhouse with numerous potential flashpoints that the administration has identified as crucial to U.S. interests . While resulting in a leaner force , the new strategy also calls for the U.S. to increase its military 's `` institutional weight and focus on enhanced presence , power projection , and deterrence in Asia-Pacific , '' Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday . While welcoming a peaceful U.S. role in the region , Xinhua 's commentary Friday warned the United States against acting like a `` bull in a china shop . '' `` The U.S. role , if fulfilled with a positive attitude and free from a Cold War-style zero-sum mentality , will not only be conducive to regional stability and prosperity , but be good for China , which needs a peaceful environment to continue its economic development , '' the Xinhua editorial said . `` However , while boosting its military presence in the Asia-Pacific , the United States should abstain from flexing its muscles , as this wo n't help solve regional disputes . '' The new defense strategy , which still lacks many specifics , is meant to pare U.S. defense spending by at least $ 487 billion over the next decade and drops a long-standing doctrine calling for the ability to fight to simultaneous ground wars . The result will be a more `` agile , flexible , ready-to-deploy , innovative and technologically advanced '' force prepared to counter terrorists , rogue states and the threat of nuclear weapons worldwide , Panetta said Thursday . Gen. Martin Dempsey , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , said the focus on the Asia-Pacific region is crucial . `` The strategy talks about a shift to the future , '' he said Thursday . `` And all of the trends -- demographic trends , geopolitical trends , economic trends and military trends -- are shifting toward the Pacific . '' With U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan winding down , the focus on the Asia-Pacific region has become a key theme of the administration 's foreign policy commentary in recent months . In November , Obama toured the region to highlight its economic and strategic importance to U.S. interests and announced plans to eventually station a task force of up to 2,500 Marines in Australia `` The United States is a Pacific power , and we are here to stay , '' he said at the time , pledging that the coming defense cuts would not affect the country 's military posture in the region . He reiterated that pledge Thursday . `` As I made clear in Australia , we will be strengthening our presence in the Asia Pacific , and budget reductions will not come at the expense of that critical region , , '' he said .