Asian Foreign Policy

Asian Foreign Policy

Asian Foreign Policy

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Asian Foreign Policy

In the past the American government and foreign policy has been focused on the thriving North Asia with little focus being placed on the development of South Asia. The goal is to establish strong relationships with South Asia in order to ensure they can become a stable, democratic nation capable of economic growth. Obama’s Asian foreign policy seeks to strengthen current alliances in Asia as well as support efforts to achieve the Trans-Pacific Partnership between the United States, Asia, Chile, Singapore, New Zealand, Vietnam, Brunei, etc (). The goal of the Trans-Pacific Partnership is to improve economic relations between these countries and unite the Asian/Pacific region.

Obama is correct in focusing foreign policy on Asia. In order to ensure the efforts of the South Asian region to develop democratic governments they need the support of powerful democratic nations while continuing to ally with nations in North Asia. While this foreign policy may be a juggling act for the President especially with the current conflict between the different Asian powers, his efforts are necessary to the future of a globalized world (Denyer, 2014). China is becoming an economic power in the world that must be respected. In order to ensure this growing power does not become a threat to the United States and other democracies it is essential to support efforts of countries in the area to create democratic societies.

The United States must ally itself with all countries in Asia and remain neutral when conflicts arise amongst the Asian nations. Territorial struggles have created major conflict in the area but America’s role is only to act as crisis managers and support efforts to develop positive political relations between Japan and China as well as Japan and South Korea. Obama policy is focused on establishing strong diplomatic and economic ties with Asian countries to ensure in the future these countries do not become a threat to the United States or to democracy.

American Asian foreign policy is a balancing act between the North and the South plus the different nations within the continent embroiled in conflict. In South Asia the focus is on securing the area to ensure efforts to create democratic governments are supported. The goal in these areas is to forever rid countries, such as Afghanistan, of Al Qaeda and other terrorist threats attempting to stop efforts to establish democratic governments. While the goals of Obama are lofty and necessary there are many that find Obama’s foreign policy will ultimately fail.

Many believe Obama’s foreign policy in Asia is less focused on supporting the economic growth of the Asian/Pacific area and worried more about capitalizing on the rapid economic growth in the area in order to cement US relations with Asian countries (Pennington, 2014). As with many other policies of the current President, Washington is divided with Republican supporting Obama efforts to create an economic partnership through the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Obama believes America’s presents in Asia will create a stabilizing force for the economy and the eventual creation of a united continent.

Those in opposition with Obama’s policy find this partnership could threaten America’s economic stability. What this means is because American businesses use Chinese workers to create their products it has severely impacted the job market in the United States. If Obama’s efforts in Asia are supported the economic recovery of America will be threatened (Harwood, 2014). Asia is already becoming economically stable as a result of the jobs provided to them by businesses in American society. Any additional efforts to improve the Asian economy will only hamper efforts to strengthen the American economy.

Despite the opposition of Obama’s Asian foreign policy the new trade agreement will result in more jobs for Americans and greater global engagement for the world’s economy. Obama supports advancements in freedom for North Asian countries and regional peace while in South Asia his goal is to create a stable economic nation. Obama supports the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in order to strengthen American engagement with Asian countries. Despite these goals people in opposition with this policy find Obama has made no real progress in Asian countries, such as China, and his rebalancing has only created greater economic concerns.

In order for Obama’s foreign policies with various countries in Asia to be a success and the TPP agreement to go into effect there needs to be greater support from Congress and Asian/Pacific countries. Obama will need to continue to focus on security and strengthening the economies of South Asian countries while improving diplomatic relations with countries like China and Japan. Obama’s Asian foreign policy is focused on creating a prosperous connection between Asian and America as well as strengthening the American economy.

References

Denyer, S. (2014). Obama's Asia rebalancing turns into a big foreign policy headache. Retrieved

February 25, 2014 from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/28/obama-china-japan

Harwood, J. (2014). Obama’s foreign policy and trade risking unity of Democrats, anger from

labor unions. Retrieved February 25, 2014 from

http://johnib.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/obamas-foreign-policy-and-trade-risking-unity

Pennington, M. (2014). Analysis: Obama's Asia policy set back by Senate's top Democrat.

Retrieved February 25, 2014 from

http://www.denverpost.com/politics/ci_25043152/analysis-obamas-asia-policy-set-back