President Obama was broadly successful in the Asia-Pacific during his first term. He’ll have to work harder the second time around.
President Barack Obama begins his second term with a new national security team in the making. Although at this time only John Kerry has been confirmed, its seem likely that most, if not all of his key nominees (former Senator Chuck Hagel, John Brennan and Jack Lew) will secure Senate confirmation in the coming weeks.
Obama has clearly resolved to make Asia his priority region on the foreign-policy front. He has spent more time in East Asia than in any other foreign region. Most Asian leaders have welcomed Obama’s reelection, though the political transitions in China, Japan and South Korea increase uncertainties over how long such views will prevail.
During its first term, the Obama administration managed to make progress in resolving some important issues and exploiting valuable opportunities regarding both traditional U.S. allies (such as Japan and South Korea) and emerging partners (ASEAN). In other cases, as with Russia and India, the results have been mixed. But during the next four years the administration faces major challenges in Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, and above all China—for which no easy solutions are available.
The Pentagon has been able to expand defense cooperation with Southeast Asia, especially Singapore (preparations are currently underway for the basing of U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships at Changi Pier), Indonesia (new arms sales and joint training and education opportunities), and Vietnam (expanding engagement to encompass port visits, joint exercises, and defense dialogues).
Another core element of the Asia Pivot is bolstering local militaries’ capacities to deal with lower-level threats. For example, the Obama administration wants to enhance the air and naval capabilities of friendly maritime states so that they can help protect international waterways from pirates and other threats to freedom of the seas, allowing the U.S. Navy to focus on higher-end threats. To further this goal, the United States is selling 24 F-16C/Ds to Indonesia and coastal ships to the Philippines. Similarly, the United States is helping countries build stronger ground forces to suppress local terrorists and insurgents. Border security programs also extend to encompass the potential movement of nuclear and other dangerous materials to global markets. All these capabilities promote the security of the international air and maritime commons, which serve as the foundation of the global economy.
The Obama administration launched a sustained and largely successful diplomatic campaign to reenergize U.S. relations with ASEAN leaders, who complained that they were being neglected under the previous administration. Obama’s decision to accede to ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity and Cooperation was received very positively by ASEAN leaders, who also benefited from regular meetings with their U.S. counterparts. They also welcomed the administration’s successful outreach effort regarding Myanmar.
Economic ties between ASEAN and the United States made major progress when, in November 2012, Obama hosted talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) initiative at meetings of the East Asia Summit and ASEAN in Cambodia. They set October 2013 as the date when they would like to reach an agreement creating a comprehensive regional trade agreement.
Reddit
Digg
StumbleUpon
Delicious
Technorati
Yahoo
Google
Plurk
Bankotsu
"No Henry Ford, William buffet, bill gates, Larry Ellison, Steve jobs, jeff bezos, etc.??? Just one? How feeble of China!"
But what is the use of these things if the economy is in decline?
Kim’s Uncle
@ red Chinese dudes, still can’t name one Chinese entrepreneur/business tycoon that has created a business from scratch and built into an empire that is highly respected by the world’s consuming audience? No Henry Ford, William buffet, bill gates, Larry Ellison, Steve jobs, jeff bezos, etc.??? Just one? How feeble of China !
coffeechamp
China will self-destruct soon because socio-economic disparity thanks to a fake communist regime hell bent on corruption. War is their only way to keep the country united. As for the US, stop outsourcing to china. Seriously, the quality sucks. Bring back at least 50% of manufacturing to home soil and outsource the rest to your allies.
Bankotsu
"How about providing for me one Chinese CEO that is well known and respected throughout the world? Like Jack Welch, Akira Morita, Carlos or Carlos Ghosn etc.?"
What's the use of well known rich capitalist CEOs? Can they save the world economy? Can they raise the living standards of common people and the working class?
Kim’s Uncle
@ be way, Vic, and red Chinese,
How about providing for me one Chinese CEO that is well known and respected throughout the world? Like Jack Welch, Akira Morita, Carlos or Carlos Ghosn etc.?
Just one Chinese CEO that runs an amazing company that western business schools would use in a case study??? :).
The silence is deafening!!!!!!
ashleyhk
Jack Ma??
Great guy and awesome company
John Chan
@Kim,
Whenever you are provided with answers; you and the anti-China clique simply dismissed the answers offhand and used the opportunity to bash China more. You are not here to debate, but to discharge your hatred against China for whatever your personal reasons. Unless you can rein in your emotion and behave, you will be not be taken seriously.
Observer
@ chinese brands such as "Lenovo, Huawei, Geely, Tsingtao Beer, Haier, Esprit"
Lenovo = clones of former IBM mobile division. Nice try to pass it off as chinese brand but fail.
Huawei = never heard such name in EU or US.
Geely = odd name for a car company. Never saw one in EU or US.
Tsingta = cheap beer, never saw one in bars and clubs in EU or US.
Haier = friends in US said the homeless would not get one if they were given away for free.
Espirit = clothes? Not very popular outside china.
Want to know the best and most admired brands? Look here = http://www.techinasia.com/50-most-admired-brands-in-the-world/ (moderators, the link is not spam)
Again, one chinese brand that is popular and admired around the world.
Here are some from the US = Coke, Boeing, Google, Microsoft, GE, 3M, Disney, Nike, Exxon, Intel, Caterpillar, HP and much much more.
Bottom line = china is just a pretender with empty boastings and big words. Nothing more.
John Chan
@Observer,
Coke = vanguard of American imperialism that uses thugs to bust unions fighting for reasonable salary.
Being = death merchant, part of the American MIC that makes profits on the misery of humanity.
Google = peeking Tom and CIA henchman that destroy privacy of human rights and liberty.
Exxon = environment destroyer
HP = dying dinosaur
Nike = label only, living on the blood and sweat of developing nations
Intel = a passé technology mammoth drowning in the sea of mobile technologies.
…
Bottom line = past glory cannot guarantee future success. Band name is a good will and a virtue reality, living in virtue reality is delusion.
Observer
Look like the REAL Godfather is back and the pretender (china) is about to be push out.
Better go back and try again with your empty boastings and chantings of "historic evidences" or "undisputable" and other hollow threats. How sad and pathetic.
a_canadian_observer
@Be Way: Lenovo? this is basically IBM.
Huawei: haven't seen one here in Toronto.
Geely: Never heard of
Tsingtao Beer: Beer is a Western drink/product. You guys are just piggy backing it. Anyway, the name sounds chinese, so I never order one when I go to a restaurant (by the way, only chinese restaurants carry this beer). No idea what kind oof water they used to produce this beverage.
Haier: Never heard of.
Esprit: This is a French name, and I know there is a product with such trade name. Are you copying again?
vic
If you have not heard of these names, then you are living very comfortably in your own little corner of the world. And if a brand name has Western connotations to your way of thinking, then that should be okay as it is more acceptable to you. FYI, Esprit brand was started in Hong Kong way back. It does not hurt you to open up your mind to see the world as it is.
John Chan
@a_canadian_observer,
Lenovo rescued IBM, otherwise IBM is going to be another Compaq.
Huawei: you need to ask Bell, Rogers, etc. those big guys, you are just too puny for them.
Tsingtao Beer: you must be a fake Canadian; it seems you have never been in LCBO.
Haier: it seems you have never been in Canada’s home appliance boutiques; your Canadian credential is suspicious.
Esprit: It seems you are closet commie and you are against free trade and globalization; in the free-market economy, it is capitalist’s right to use whatever the brand name they like to make a profit; questioning capitalist’s right is a crime in the West.
a_canadian_observer
Actually I thnk these are some well known chinese products:
1. Tiananmen square massacre,
2. Physical and culture genocide in Tibet and Xinjiang,
3. Melanine-mixed milk for children,
4. Fake rice, fake eggs, gutter-recycled cooking oil,
5. Scheduled killing of prisoners to sale their organs
Just to name a few.
Bankotsu
"But I would vote to affirm Hagel."
I also support Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense. The neo con warmongers oppose him, that is good enough for me.
Leonard R.
I don't have much confidence in Kerry as SOS. But I would vote to affirm Hagel.
Kerry will likely be a step down from Hillary. She was a tough Secretary of State. That is exactly what those clowns in Foggy Bottom need – somebody tough. What they don't need is one more pompous buffoon. State is full of them already.
Kim’s Uncle
@vic, I just asked you to name one product under a Chinese label the world can recognize and you can't name me one? LOL……..
US has Apple. Japan has Toyota. S. Korea has Samsung. Germany has BMW. Sweden has Ikea. France has Airbus. UK has Rolls Royce……..etc….
You can't name one Freaking well known Chinese company the world's consumers can identify and admired? LOL… No wonder people mock and ridicule China so much!
John Chan
@Kim,
Or you can say, China has come up so fast, it scares the wit out of the American, Japanese, Korean, etc. They are jealous, resentful, bitter and fear of China’s achievements, they cannot stop their decline, they have lost economic size to China, they has lost competitiveness to China, they have lost financial muscle to China, they have lost manufacturing to China, … , they are going to lose bit by bit China, so the only thing they can do is weaving some labels to soothe their wounds and defeats.
American Patriot
@ John Chan
Please explain how the USA has lost economic size to China. If anything our corporations have been making even more money by doing business with China, not losing business. Every country goes through recessions, even China. The thing is, when your country is poorer than most african countries (in the 1980s) and then receives trade from the richest nations in the world ( America and the EU) it will tend to grow for quite sometime. Which is exactly what has happened with China.
Tell me John Chan, are you naive enough to believe that a country can grow its economy forever? If so, it seems like you are totally ignorant of economics and are not worth debating with.
John Chan
@American Patriot,
American is in the business of imperialism not in the business of charity; even yourself said that American was in the business of exploitation. Calling exploitation as charity is really shameless, I wonder whether you skin would be thicker than elephant’s skin.
China has been growing for 30 years; all the western economists and politicians said it is unprecedented in history, it is better for you to accept the fact so that you can be at peace with yourself. Your jealousy, resentment, bitterness and fear against China’s achievement is not good for your health. You should take your life saving to start a new business that is the best way to show you are an American Patriot, ill wishing China is a sore loser’s behaviour and it is a disgrace to the USA..
Bankotsu
"Tell me John Chan, are you naive enough to believe that a country can grow its economy forever?"
Are you saying that China's economy will end up like the U.S?
vic
I really would to oblige you but saying nope, I can't think of one. But to be fair to you, Huawei and ZTE spring to mind, both are makers of routers and telecom gear. Haier, is a maker of white goods: refrigerators, etc. Many do know of these names.
Fernando
Both are tools for the Chinese governments spying activity. People should ask their telecom operators to buy none China equipment or face a boycott.
Cyrus
Yes to be fair those are well known brands.
Be Way
Such a simple answer and yet you don't know. You called yourself educated, open and sophisticated..Shame on you
Lenovo, Huawei, Geely, Tsingtao Beer, Haier, Esprit,
Kim’s Uncle
@ be way, you just proved my point! Those “brands” you just mentioned are hardly awe inspiring! They are not iconic brands people associate with terms of quality n reputation. Lenovo? That’s hardly a brand! That’s just a Chinese company buying a division of IBM for home PC because that line of business is a commodity.
Most people of the world can’t even name one Chinese entrepreneur that recognized like bill gates or Steve jobs! That’s why china is still in the pee wee league of industrial development!
China has a lot of work to focus on before she gain any respect from the world. Btw that is another reason why china is such a big cyber thief n hacker! China cannot invent, create, or innovate so she has to copy n steal!
vic
If such is the case, you should have nothing to worry about Chinese challenges. You can now rest, take it easy, and talk gently.
Be Way
@Kim, the Korean Imposter,
You want to know a Chinese brand and now I even provide 6 international well-know Chinese brands and there you are still bewailing that it's not awe aspiring. For your information, Gartner, an international consumer market consultancy, declared Lenovo the world’s biggest seller of PCs for the FY 2012, ahead even that of Hewlett-Packard (HP).. It is number one in five of the seven biggest PC markets, including Japan and Germany.
I will at least have respected you if you mentioned some Korean entrepreneur names but instead you used American entrepreneur to boast your muddle argument. You are not a Korean by any chance. Korean and Chinese are good friends, good neighbors and above all, they are part of one family.
Entrepreneur come and go. However never in anyone history, can the world ever forget Confucius and Sun Tzu, the living philisopher and strategist resp, for the last 2,500 years ago. Can Europe, America or Japan dare to claim themselves of being advanced civilization other than living in dark ages of barbarism.
John Chan
@Kim,
Steve Jobs is dead and Apple is in the decline, its share has lost 50% of the value and is going down due to lack of innovation.
Bill Gate is out of innovation business years, Microsoft stock has been a bashing bag for the investors due to its mediocre performance and lack of innovations.
Sure I know the American brands, like Chrysler, GM, Ford, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Olympus, Enron, WorldCom, … all of them are members of Hall of Shame that did terrible harm to the humanity including the Americans themselves. Nobody should touch them with 10 foot barge pole including you, Kim, it is for your own good.
American Patriot
I'll give you guys Lenovo, but even they only manufacture low quality computers and aren't even an industry leader when it comes to innovation and development in the PC market.
The others have nearly no marketshare in any important consumer markets, they are only domestic Chinese companies that are dwarfed by international competitors, but nice try.
China sorely lacks high-value added companies, the vast majority of China's economy is still stuck in low-income manufacturing, unfortunately for China, I don't see the trend reversing anytime soon which is why the middle income trap is the most likely scenario for your country.
vic
The "art of business" – keep consumers happy, and keep your competitors thinking you have little qualifications to compete now or in the future. Meanwhile keep ringing your cash register and build your capital reserve for tomorrow.
Be Way
@American Patriot,
For your information, Gartner, an international consumer market consultancy, declared Lenovo the world’s biggest seller of PCs for the FY 2012, ahead even that of Hewlett-Packard (HP).. It is number one in five of the seven biggest PC markets, including Japan and Germany.
Exactly as you had mentioned is true that the vast majority of the Chinese companies are still stuck in low income manufacturing. Why should they be ashamed of themselves when they don't copy, steal, cheat or kill anyone to turn themselves into top class companies. If they have done as what they have being accused of copying, stealing and cheating, why should they remain in low income manufacturing when there is much more money to make from producing high class quality products.
So at least my best advice to you is please give the Chinese a break instead of trying to stir up hostilities against them.
Bankotsu
"The others have nearly no marketshare in any important consumer markets, they are only domestic Chinese companies…"
But that's a 1.3 billion market. Perhaps if you are a leader in chinese market, you are already going "global" lol.
Dean
By stealing their IPs or forcing their technological transfers, by pursuing a self-interest mercantilist economic policy: currency manipulation, export subsidy for unfair access to foreign markets, protectionist high tariffs for blocking foreign exports into chinese market, suppressing domestic consumption, & business discrimination in favor of chinese local companies, etc. This is what you called ' the art of business'? Shame on you, vic. The world calls it ' the art of big swindle of the global con, China'!