By Karam Singh Sethi
A true focus on Asia is critical not only to compete with China, but to stay relevant in the 21st century.
A broad, long-term initiative (PDF) in nature, the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama rebalance – the foreign policy effort to refocus on the Asia Pacific – has three key near-term goals: pass the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) treaty; advise nascent democracies (like Myanmar) on improving transparency and treating citizens equitably; and increase bilateral security training and intelligence collaboration. But in some respects, these goals have proven elusive. Obama had hoped to conclude the TPP by December 2012, yet stillno deadline has been set. Meanwhile, the troubled democracies that were initially making headlines for their progress have lately fallen back on old habits.
Five years after Obama announced that he wanted to rebalance U.S. foreign policy towards the Asia Pacific – he’s batting about one for three. Each initiative is nuanced, and success with each requires remarkable focus, so the administration’s track record isn’t terrible. And there are many fires back home that need attention before Obama can match his words on Asia with deeds. Unfortunately, while the U.S. is talking the talk, China is walking the walk. Beijing is particularly keen on filling the U.S. void in the region in two specific ways: economic clout and hawkish demonstrations in the South China Sea.
“Asia Pacific Dream,” “The Chinese Dream,” “March Westward,” “Silk Road Economic Belt,” whatever the nomenclature, the People’s Republic of China’s audacious foreign policy initiatives are in full force and put to use one of China’s greatest resources – money. To exert influence in Asia, Chinese President Xi Jinping had an answer for TPP: a new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB), bankrolled with $40 billion to make China an even more influential regional leader. And unlike TPP, which excludes China, the AIIB welcomed U.S. involvement, an unexpected move after Xi’s “Asia for Asians” comments in Shanghai. The AIIB serves as not only a counterweight to TPP, but also as a vehicle for China to spread monetary influence throughout Asia.
Read the full story at The Diplomat