Despite Obama’s Absence, China Remains Calm

Published in China Review News
(Hong Kong) on 9 October 2013
by Guo Zhijun (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Mollie Gossage. Edited by Gillian Palmer.
U.S. President Barack Obama has his hands full lately with the federal government shutdown and had no choice but to completely cancel his originally scheduled trip to Asia, missing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the East Asia Summit. This decision has inevitably disappointed some Asia-Pacific countries which were counting on that hope of America’s return to the Asia-Pacific. Concurrent with disappointment, some countries are also posing questions: Is America’s “return to the Asia-Pacific” sustainable or not? When problems arise in both domestic and foreign affairs, can America still afford to play such an ambitious “re-balancing” game?

Although Kerry said at the APEC summit that Obama canceling this visit would not influence U.S. Asia-Pacific strategy, every country’s media is filled with interpretations of Obama’s absence. Some commentary pointed out that Obama, entangled in the government shutdown, has made China the big winner by missing the summit. Not only did America lose this advantageous opportunity to exert pressure on China over the South China Sea dispute, it also halted lobbying efforts for Southeast Asian countries joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership — for which enthusiasm was never high to begin.

Even America’s own media — The Wall Street Journal — issued an Oct. 5 report stating that Obama’s absence at this APEC summit, caused by the government shutdown, damages diplomatic momentum in the Asia-Pacific region, perhaps leaving the door wide open for China to broaden the scope of its own diplomatic influence. The U.S. Cable News Network also commented that Obama’s absence at this summit gives China an opportunity to strengthen its dominant position in the Asia-Pacific region.

It seems that America feigns calmness on the surface, while deep down it is extremely vigilant about China’s continuously improving relationships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The U.S. is worried that China will seize this chance to rope in the Southeast Asian countries, uniting with them on the “battle line” to collaborate against America. It may not say so out loud, but at heart, the U.S. definitely considers China its number one enemy in the Asia-Pacific region.

In contrast to this antagonistic mentality of the U.S., China is much calmer and more collected. China knows very well that if it overemphasizes America’s “blank space” this time, it could bring about a rise in the “China threat” discussion. This would create an unwanted disturbance in long-term Asia-Pacific strategy. Peking University’s expert on Sino-U.S. issues expressed that “the U.S. government shutdown was manufactured by the U.S. system of government; this has nothing to do with U.S. diplomatic strategy national strength. China absolutely must not adopt a shortsighted approach for this.”

Compared to China’s vision, America’s “return to the Asia-Pacific” strategy seems rather ill-considered. While we should not overexaggerate the influence of Obama’s cancelled Asia trip over a U.S. “return to the Asia-Pacific” itself, we should, however, add a question mark to the currently-implemented U.S. “re-balancing” strategy. America undoubtedly has the capability of “returning to Asia” — and moreover, of implementing its “return to the Asia-Pacific” strategy — but has America even considered what kind of strategy can stay in line with Asian nations’ expectations for America? At the very least, it isn’t repeated calls to arms, endless pestering and vilifying of China in the Asia-Pacific region.

If America is smart enough, then it ought to realize there is no advantage to making enemies in the Asia-Pacific. The Asian-Pacific nations naturally are very welcoming of invigorating and helpful U.S. “interventions,” but if America just came to stir up trouble and offend China, then many Asian-Pacific nations are going to reconsider their relations with the U.S. This absence of American leaders has indeed brought the re-balancing strategy — which America so hoped to push forward as soon as possible — to a halt. Moreover, it has given some Asian-Pacific nations doubts: How does such a politically dysfunctional and financially irresponsible nation — one that can’t even manage its own domestic issues — become the world leader?

The U.S. should take advantage of this “comma” to thoroughly reflect for a moment upon all its conduct in the Asia-Pacific, recognize reality and appropriately deal with its relationship with China, bringing a “re-balancing” strategy that is genuinely beneficial to peaceful development across the Asia-Pacific.


社評:奧巴馬雖缺席亞洲 中國仍淡定以對

中評社香港10月9日電(評論員 郭至君)美國總統奧巴馬最近分身乏術,因美國聯邦政府關門,原先計劃好的亞洲之行也不得已完全取消,缺席APEC峰會和東亞峰會。此舉難免讓希望美國重返亞洲為其撐腰的一些亞太國家失望,在失望的同時,也有一些國家提出了質疑,到底美國的“亞太再平衡”戰略能否持續?在內政外交都出現問題的時候,美國還玩不玩得起如此野心勃勃的“亞太再平衡”?

  雖然克里在APEC峰會上稱奧巴馬取消訪問不影響美國亞太戰略,但各國媒體還是將美國總統的這一缺席進行了充分地解讀。有評論指出,被政府關門絆住腳的奧巴馬缺席APEC峰會,中國成最大贏家。因為美國不僅僅失去了利用這次機會在南海問題上對中國施壓,而且對原本就熱情不高的東南亞國家加入TPP的游說工作也陷入了停頓。

  連美國本國媒體《華爾街日報》5日也發表報道稱,此次奧巴馬因政府關門缺席APEC峰會,將使美國在亞太地區損失一些外交勢頭,可能為中國擴大外交影響打開大門。美國有線新聞網絡(CNN)評論也指,奧巴馬此次缺席峰會給予了中國機會,將增強中國在亞太地區的主導地位。

  這樣看來,美國表面上故作淡定,但內心卻十分警惕中國與東盟國家之間不斷提升的關係,美國擔心,中國趁機拉攏東南亞國家,與它們統一“戰線”,共同“對付”美國。美國雖然嘴上不說,但心里已經明確把中國當成了其在亞太地區的頭號敵人。

相比美國這種樹敵心理,中國卻淡定得多。因為中國清楚地知道,如果過分強調美國的此次空白,則有可能導致“中國威脅論”的高漲,這反而會對亞太的長期戰略造成干擾。北京大學的中美問題專家表示:“美國政府關門是美國政治體製造成的,這與美國的外交戰略以及國力無關。中國決不會對此採取短視性行動。”

  比起中國的遠見,美國的“亞太再平衡”戰略則顯得有些考慮不周。我們雖不應該過分誇大此次奧巴馬取消亞洲之行對美國本身“重返亞太”的影響,但是我們應該為目前美國所實行的“再平衡”戰略打上一個問號。美國無疑有能力“重返亞洲”並且實行它的“亞太再平衡”,可是美國難道沒有思考過,究竟怎樣的戰略才符合亞洲國家對美國的期望?至少不是在亞太地區頻頻號令、胡攪蠻纏,與中國樹敵。

  如果美國夠聰明,就應該明白,在亞太地區樹敵是沒有好處的。亞太國家自然很歡迎美國帶有積極幫助式的“介入”,可是如果美國是來亂攪一通,得罪中國,那許多亞太國家就要重新考慮與美國的關係了。此次美國領導人的缺席,確實使得美方希望儘快推動的亞太再平衡戰略短暫停頓,並且也給一些亞太國家帶來疑惑:一個政治上機能失調,財政上不負責任,連國內問題也無法處理好的國家,如何成為世界的領導者?

  美國應該趁著這個“逗號”,好好總結思考一下自己在亞太地區的所作所為,認清現實,妥善處理好與中國的關係,帶來真正有利於全亞太地區和平發展的“再平衡”戰略。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Russia: Political Analyst Reveals the Real Reason behind US Tariffs*

Taiwan: Making America Great Again and Taiwan’s Crucial Choice

Topics

Taiwan: Making America Great Again and Taiwan’s Crucial Choice

Russia: Political Analyst Reveals the Real Reason behind US Tariffs*

Poland: Meloni in the White House. Has Trump Forgotten Poland?*

Germany: US Companies in Tariff Crisis: Planning Impossible, Price Increases Necessary

Japan: US Administration Losing Credibility 3 Months into Policy of Threats

Mauritius: Could Trump Be Leading the World into Recession?

India: World in Flux: India Must See Bigger Trade Picture

Related Articles

Hong Kong: Can US Tariffs Targeting Hong Kong’s ‘Very Survival’ Really Choke the Life out of It?

Hong Kong: What Makes US Trade War More Dangerous than 2008 Crisis: Trump

Hong Kong: China, Japan, South Korea Pave Way for Summit Talks; Liu Teng-Chung: Responding to Trump

Hong Kong: With Friends Like Trump’s America, Who Needs Enemies?

Hong Kong: A ‘Toxic Masculinity’ Explanation of Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy