Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
During his ten days in the Asia-Pacific, President Obama managed to convey successfully his administration’s determination to “rebalance” American attention, influence, and investment toward Asia, and away from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While President Obama will use his ten day trip to the Asia-Pacific to demonstrate that the United States is serious about its involvement in the region, his substantive agenda appears thin and may disappoint those with high expectations.
Recent changes in Myanmar’s behavior suggest that its leaders may be attempting to shift away from dependence on China and seek greater legitimacy at home.
As the United States enters a gradual period of recovery from the financial crisis and China’s economic future seems fraught with danger, America still has the ability to serve as a source of stability for the Asia-Pacific region.
Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party is struggling to win centrist voters, who want to avoid friction with mainland China, without alienating their anti-mainland base.
Territorial disputes in the South China Sea threaten regional stability and the U.S.-China bilateral relationship. Yet both the United States and China have an interest in managing tensions and seeking a constructive way forward.
U.S. interests are best served by maintaining the status quo policy toward Taiwan. Washington cannot accommodate Beijing's demands to stop selling arms to Taipei as long as China continues its military buildup opposite Taiwan's shores.
While China’s new aircraft carrier does not pose a major threat to U.S. forces or allies in the Western Pacific, the United States needs to take steps to communicate this message of reassurance to countries in the region.
Although movement is being made toward the resumption of six-party talks with North Korea, persistent disagreements will likely prevent any meaningful progress toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
China’s stance on the recent UN Security Council Resolutions on Libya demonstrates that Beijing’s traditional foreign policy of noninterference is being challenged by its growing international involvement and expanding economic ties.
