Obama’s Asian vision

[Neo]

Obama’s Asian vision​

By Vishakha Desai

Asians are keen to hear Obama’s thoughts about a new or renewed international system, and hope that his vision of a new global order will incorporate the rising countries of Asia as America’s partners

Now that Barack Obama has made history by being elected President of the United States, people throughout the Asia-Pacific region fervently hope he will focus on Asia in a way that he did not during the election season. In the past few months, every time I visited an Asian country — whether South Korea or India, China or Japan — I was asked repeatedly about candidate Obama’s positions on three issues: trade, foreign policy, and the new geo-economic order. We all now hope that President-elect Obama will provide the answers, not only in words, but also in actions.

Policy wonks and interested Asians alike often say that when Republicans are in power in America, Asians breathe a confident sigh of relief. Their assumption is that Republicans will back free trade and oppose protectionism. This time around, they have not heard much from the President-elect, who is a Democrat, on trade with Asia, and what they have heard about his position on the North American Free Trade Agreement — an alleged desire to rewrite that trade pact unilaterally — does not inspire confidence.

At the same time, countries like India feel that the US, along with Europe, have been on both sides of “free” and “fair” trade — but always from a narrow nationalistic perspective. If the US is serious about “fair” trade, they say, the new administration will need, for example, to deal with the unfairness of agricultural subsidies, which led to the collapse of the Doha round of World Trade Organisation talks. Most importantly, a trade policy must be articulated that is both free and fair (not only for US workers, but also for Asian workers), and that reassures Asians that Obama will be aware of their needs.

While the US economy falls into a deep recession, the economies of large Asian countries like China and India will continue to grow at an annual rate of 7 percent to 9 percent. They will remain an important source of import demand, especially for high technology and industrial goods. This could be a great boon to the US economy.

Asian leaders have often complained that at a time when Asia became increasingly interconnected and China began to enlarge its sphere of influence, America was largely absent in the region. Indeed, for the past seven years America’s foreign policy seems to have been conducted entirely through the prism of the “war on terror” and the Iraq war. While there were some singular bilateral accomplishments, such as the adoption of the US-India civil nuclear energy deal, the US has been perceived to be less effective in dealing with the region’s burgeoning multilateral frameworks.

Now, fully aware of Obama’s claims for a presidency that will be about the future, Asians are eager to hear about his vision of the Asia-Pacific region and how the US will deal with Asia’s giants — China and India — while maintaining strong connections to Japan.

The need for Obama to address the region’s new realities early in his tenure has been underlined by the current financial crisis, which has made abundantly clear that the centre of global economic power has shifted toward the East. It is also clear that the West’s future role will depend on how America manages this new distribution of power.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has begun to talk about a Bretton Woods II that would give a bigger voice to Asia in the world’s great multilateral financial and economic institutions, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has asked that China help the West during these difficult times.

And, while scholars have begun to talk about building an Asia-Pacific community that can match the Atlantic community’s extensive network of relationships, there has been no clear signal from the US government about America’s role in this transformation. So Asians are keen to hear Obama’s thoughts about a new or renewed international system, and hope that his vision of a new global order will incorporate the rising countries of Asia as America’s partners.

I was in Korea last week, and several of my friends and colleagues, some in prominent public positions, were thrilled at the prospect of the new US president. They marvelled at the fact that America’s democracy can actually make it possible for a youngish African-American to become the leader of the free world. Now, this rising region is desperate to hear Obama’s thoughts about America’s role in Asia, thoughts that are commensurate with Asia’s importance — and with the scope of his vision. —DT-PS

Vishakha Desai is President of the Asia Society

 

[x_man]

Obama has just been appointed CEO of a Corporation that’s bankrupt: Bankrupted by a fool over 8 years. He does have a tough job with the US economy and two ongoing wars, restoring American pride etc.

We shouldn’t forget that he is elected to serve the interests of Americans not Asians, Africans, Europeans etc, hopefully, our politicians will remember this too...though I doubt it.

Soon life will be back to normal. Anti-Americanism cannot die: too many people need it for their own political purposes even here in Pakistan. But at the same time, for many people throughout the world, the certainty of hatred has been replaced by the uncertainty of hope.

My SINCEREST best wishes for the US - and all of us to whom she has influenced or will influence in the next few years (and beyond).And pray that Obama doesn’t screw it up like his predecessor.

 

[pkpatriotic]

Dear 'x-man' sir, I really admired of your clear vision, you are very true on Obamania.
In fact as we all may knows that the CEO of any country of the globe have certain parameters, he looks independent in policies..but not free as such as assumed by peoples, they have to follow the priorities & policies parameters best suited to them and as advised by their think tanks and especially by their security agencies particularly related to foreign policies concerns related to the best of their own interest, in each respective country of the world.

Similarly in USA, Obama elected by american nation to rule USA, and supposed to lead the nation in best way as much as he can do, while as far as foreign relations concerns, he ultimately can not go beyond the roadmap of their policies & perceptions as advised CIA / Pentagon who have already have comprehansive Plan in this regard, so the other nations especially Pakistan should expect not very much favorable (but it may be more worst then previous), it may have few little varities of changes in policies but it would be just to manupulate the actual situation and intents for the mean time, off-course its fact that the continuty of CIA/Policies policies is caused bad impact on their own domestic socio -economy stauts (ecnomic burdon + anti public privacy in the name of security concerns) too, but this is their internal matter.
I wish that atleast Obama may be able to fulfill his commitments as per expectations of american nation, even he may not able to deliver to the world.
We should mind our business rather and feel the responsibility at our own instead to looking to Obama's america with great expectations.

We have to recognize our self esteem, and have reform our defence strategies and socio-economy policies at basis of abondunt of our own national resources.
As saying; Apni Izaat apney haat mein hoti hey........ its a choice that how to appear before the world either as a all time stupid begger or being a esteemed soverign nation.
The divine help is always there, but in fact, it’s our own actions that keep it away and no one is blamed because the light is with us..............as God says; he will not help any nation that does not help itself. There is a clear message that he has created a system. Every one has to follow this system. God does not change anything because we pray for anything without action.

 

[Imran Khan]

US-Pakistan ties to get boost under Obama administration: PPP leader'Pakistan Times' US Bureau



NEW YORK (US): The Secretary General of Sindh PPP, Nafis Siddiqui has expressed hope that relations between Pakistan and the United States would be further strengthened after the next U.S. administration, headed by Barak Obama, assumes office.

Siddiqui, who led a nine-member multi-party Pakistani delegation comprising elected representative and politicians that observed last Tuesday’s US presidential elections, called the event “historic” that would have far-reaching impact at home and abroad.

The delegation’s visit was organized by a Washington-based think tank. Addressing a press conference, the PPP leader said that the outcome of the election was a “welcome change” and would help improve Umited States’ image among the comity of nations.

He said Obama’s victory should serve as an inspiration for the proponents of democracy and for all those who believe in democratic values and democratic culture.

Underscoring his party’s deep commitment to strengthening democratic instituions in Pakistan, Siddiqui said the government has made parliament supreme and taken other steps to strengthen the democratic process.

He said economic and other social issues confronting the Pakistani society were being addressed on war footings.

He, however, said the menace of terrorism, on which Pakistan was combating as a front-line state, was a global issue and tackled with the active participation of international community.

Also present at the news conference were Haji Adeel, Senator ANP, Nargis Awan, MPA and Zalfiqar Badar, a PPP leader from Punjab.

 

[Imran Khan]

Obama looking at regional strategy in Afghan war* Incoming administration considering talks with Iran
* Support talks between Karzai government and ‘reconcilable’ Taliban
* To refocus on hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden

WASHINGTON: United States president-elect Barack Obama’s incoming administration is considering a regional strategy to the war in Afghanistan that could include talks with Iran, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper, citing unnamed Obama national security advisers, also said the incoming US officials support talks between the Afghan government of Hamid Karzai and ‘reconcilable’ members of the Taliban.

Refocus: The president-elect also intends to move ahead with a planned deployment of thousands of additional US troops to Afghanistan and refocus on the hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, the newspaper reported.

The George W Bush administration “has been hampered by ideological and diplomatic constraints and an unrealistic commitment to the goal of building a modern democracy” in Afghanistan, the newspaper said.

A more realistic goal would be to help build a stable Afghanistan that rejects extremism and does not threaten US interests, the officials told the Post.

The newspaper cited conversations with several Obama advisers and senior military strategists before and after the November 4 election.

None of the Obama advisers or the military strategists would speak openly, “citing sensitivities surrounding the presidential transition and the war itself”, the Post said.

It is still too early to say how the Obama administration would co-ordinate with Iran on Afghanistan, as Washington and Tehran have not had diplomatic relations since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

However the two countries share a common goal, as the Iranians “don’t want Sunni extremists in charge of Afghanistan any more than we do”, an unnamed senior US military official told the Post.

During the presidential campaign, Obama said that he would explore the possibility of direct talks with the US foes, including Iran.

Separately, the Obama team had not yet plotted its diplomatic approach to Pakistan, “where Bin Laden is reportedly hiding”, the Post reported. agencies