Is America’s Return to Asia Really Welcomed?

Recently, the U.S. made its grand return to Asia by forcing entry into East Asian cooperation organizations, tightening its relations with allies, voicing its opinion on all types of issues and generally causing ripples throughout the area. For a while, things were really looking up. However, international relations have never been just about wishful thinking. The U.S. has been itching to return to Asia, but are the Asian countries sincerely welcoming the U.S. back? Will they welcome the U.S. with open arms?

Japan and South Korea are America’s two biggest Asian allies and have already obliged the U.S. and its return to Asia by tightening military alliance ties. Japan has already announced its entry into negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and South Korea has approved the signing of a free trade agreement with the U.S. However, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda recently paid a visit to China and announced that Japan would buy Chinese national debt, thus spurring the use of RMB in bilateral trade. As the U.S. continues to be entangled in foreign debt issues and struggles with a weak economy, this news was especially eye-catching. Not too long ago, Korea expanded the scale of their mutual currency exchanges between itself and China and Japan. This year, the joint research on a free trade zone between China, Japan and Korea announced its completion, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic and Research Office was officially established, and China and Japan, for the first time, jointly proposed an initiative regarding the acceleration and promotion of an East Asia free trade zone as well as the construction of a comprehensive economic partnership. It is not hard to see that, as America’s allies, Japan and Korea’s economic cooperation has always been done with a priority on political considerations. However, Asia is still their main economic support. Japan and Korea’s participation in inter-regional cooperation is real and will only continue to accelerate.

A few ASEAN countries have publicly expressed their support for America’s presence in Asia, if for nothing more than the hope that they can bring in the U.S. for support and encouragement in times of dispute. There is a saying that describes this situation best: “It’s easier to invite the devil than to send him away.” First, America’s domination of security issues in the region is a possible opening of Pandora’s Box and might actually intensify regional conflicts. Americans promote open seas, but this in fact stems from military intentions. Most sea-bordering nations have remained vigilant in regards to America’s stance on the scope of their military warship exercises. Second, as a superpower, America’s entry into the ASEAN summit revealed that the U.S. is not willing to be a “regular passenger” in East Asian cooperation. Whether or not ASEAN can maintain its position as the driver remains a serious concern for ASEAN countries. This same amount of concern is extended to whether or not the “Asian model” will be challenged. Third, the U.S. has increased its presence in Australia by stationing troops there. Bearing the brunt of this are Australia’s neighbors Indonesia and Malaysia. These two nations are concerned that their security interests have been harmed. Both countries expressed their disapproval in different forms and it has been said that Indonesia has proposed diplomatic negotiations with the U.S. regarding this issue.

Both Afghanistan and Pakistan were dragged into America’s war on terror, leaving them with good reason to be resentful towards the U.S. 10 years ago, the U.S. ambitiously launched the Afghan war, hoping to create a new Afghanistan. Now, with its own interests in mind, the U.S. has begun an emergency withdrawal from Afghanistan. The U.S. came to Afghanistan, wreaked a lot of havoc and abandoned it in a state of disarray, leaving a complete mess for south Asia. Afghanistan is suffering from the wounds of war and facing incredible difficulties in dealing with the reconciliation among ethnic groups and its rebuilding process. Pakistan, in its fight against terror, made huge sacrifices, but only received doubt and suspicion from the U.S. Afghan leaders once angrily stated that if foreign nations continue to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal politics, they would consider joining the Taliban. After NATO’s air strikes against Pakistani military checkpoints resulted in the deaths of 24 Pakistani soldiers, Pakistan shut down the American air force base in Balochistan. Pakistan also expressed its desire to revaluate relations with the U.S. The U.S. threw out its own designs for a new silk road for the post-withdrawal era, but has still continued to encourage Afghan neighbors to shoulder this “responsibility.” The U.S. does not want to spend one dollar on this, but rather wants to force neighboring countries to pick up the tab.

The U.S. has stated that just as they have created an “Atlantic Century,” they are also seeking to create a “Pacific Century.” However, much time has passed and the situation is far different now. Today’s Asia is full of vigor and hope; Asian countries have more self-respect, confidence, self-reliance and power than at any other time in history. Like one Indonesian leader said, the days of this region’s domination by a certain superpower are gone and will never return. Peace, development, and cooperation are the trends for this era. Equal treatment and friendly discussions are the correct path for coexistence among the nations of this region. The development of today’s Asia is one that is open to the outside and one that welcomes all those who are truly willing to be equal partners in cooperation, no matter how far away they may be. If someone does proclaim themselves to be the returning top dog of the region, this will only be viewed as nothing more than Don Quixote-style absurdity. We hope that countries both within the region and outside will comply with the trends of the time. Asians are truly able to control their own destinies and they are also able to enjoy eternal peace and prosperity.