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Choosing Asia for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's first overseas trip has gotten the Obama administration off on the right foot in dealing with this vitally important region.
What's needed now is a clearly articulated vision of America's future role in Asia and a well thought out strategy for getting us from here to there.
This was one of the central conclusions of the report ``The United States and the Asia-Pacific Region: Security Strategy for the Obama Administration," produced by the Honolulu-based Pacific Forum CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) and four Washington-area think tanks, and co-chaired by Pacific Forum President Emeritus James Kelly and Center for a New American
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The report, which had been offered in draft form to the Obama administration's transition team and incoming Asia specialists, was officially rolled out in Washington, D.C., on March 11 (and is available at www.pacforum.org as Issues & Insights 09-1). We were among the report's primary authors.
Secretary Clinton's trip reinforced and started the ball rolling regarding a few of the key recommendations: the need to reemphasize the centrality of Washington's Asian alliance network; a revalidation of a constructive engagement policy toward China; a recognition of the growing importance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and especially Indonesia; and serious consideration toward signing ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), among others.
But the overall vision statement and accompanying Asia-Pacific security strategy remain on the to-do list ― similar East Asia strategy reports had been written by the George H W. Bush and Clinton administrations, but none has been produced in the past decade, despite sweeping changes in the Asian geopolitical environment.
Our study contains dozens of specific recommendations, some of the more important of which are summarized as follows:
Reassert Strategic Presence
Asia Pacific nations need to be reassured of America's continued commitment to the region.
This can be done by articulating a clear Asia-Pacific vision and security strategy that explains both to the American people and to our regional friends and allies why it is in our national security interests to sustain a military presence and remain fully engaged in the region, even during a period of dwindling defense resources and competing priorities. Actions must then match the words.
Reaffirm/Reinvigorate Alliances
As North Korea continues its single-minded pursuit of nuclear weapons capability, our security umbrella and extended deterrence over Asia must by credibly reaffirmed.
The Obama administration should also follow through on the Bush administration ``transformation" commitments and develop/implement joint visions with our allies through genuine consultation.
The U.S.-Japan alliance remains central. The relocation and realignment of U.S. forces from Japan to Guam should be expedited. Washington and Tokyo should broaden and deepen their cooperation, including on nontraditional issues such as climate change and energy security.
American policymakers must also reaffirm the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and propose new strategic guidelines to enhance bilateral cooperation, both on and off the Korean Peninsula.
Washington also needs to be more actively supportive of Canberra's efforts to promote stability and good governance in the South Pacific/Oceania, while nurturing our special relationships with allies and partners in Southeast Asia.
Articulate a Clear, Pragmatic China Policy
Clinton's visit set the right tone. Washington needs to promote cooperative, constructive Sino-U.S. and cross-Strait relations, while avoiding ``zero-sum" approaches in dealing with China and Taiwan.
Our China policy should include a U.S. commitment to continued prosperity and stability in China and a welcoming of political liberalization, and an offer to increase information sharing on military modernization as regards maritime security issues and concerns.
This policy also must include continued engagement in cabinet-level bilateral dialogue and cooperation on finance and trade-related issues, while still playing hardball when necessary on matters such as product safety, protection of intellectual property rights and encouraging bilateral cooperation on climate change, energy security, and other overlapping areas of concern.
Prevent Nuclear Proliferation
Countering proliferation and promoting nuclear disarmament are flip sides of the same coin; both responsibilities should be taken seriously. Serious attention needs to be paid to the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference and the development of an effective regional export control regime.
The continuation of extended deterrence to Japan and South Korea is essential for a stable nuclear order, as is the need to provide assurance to those who depend on external guarantors for their security against nuclear weapons.
Direct dialogue with Pyongyang, employing a special envoy, must still be conducted within the context of the six-party talks.
Support Regional Multilateral Efforts
Showing up at regional gatherings is an important first step, as is expanding the U.S.-ASEAN Enhanced Partnership and efforts to cooperate on nontraditional security challenges.
Signing the TAC opens the door for participating in the East Asia Summit to demonstrate support for East Asia community building.
Various trilateral dialogues involving the United States and Japan (with South Korea, China, Australia, and India, respectively) should be considered or enhanced, and other formulations, including China-Japan-South Korea, should be supported if they contribute to greater regional interaction.
Promote Open and Free Trade
Free trade and open markets are key pillars for stability and security in the Asia-Pacific, especially as we seek cooperative ways to deal with the ongoing global financial crisis.
The Obama administration should encourage free trade agreements and similar frameworks that ensure greater interdependency and economic growth, avoid protectionism, and find a creative way (short of renegotiations) to pass the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
Strengthen American Soft Power
The Obama administration should broaden and deepen diplomatic, economic and cultural engagement; invest in professional competence/capacity building; provide leadership in addressing climate change and energy security; and rebuild America's public diplomacy capabilities.
President Obama's election has already helped to restore faith in America among many of our Asian friends and allies, but future actions must reinforce this sense of optimism if the United States is ever to reclaim its mantle as an ``indispensable" nation in Asia.
Counter Radical Islam
This is not just, or even primarily, a military duty. It requires a multi-pronged approach which quietly helps our friends combat violent groups and their enablers by providing intelligence and law enforcement assistance, developing regional information sharing technology and networks, strengthening legal systems, and training counterterrorism forces, even while addressing such root causes as poverty and inadequate education.
In order to cooperate effectively in this sensitive area, administration officials will need to establish strong personal relationships with Southeast Asian counterparts and take into account the effects of the Middle East problems.
The beginning of a new administration brings with it an opportunity to renew policy, reframe problems, and build new political foundations. The above-referenced study identifies a number of specific recommendations aimed at helping the Obama administration seize the moment in the Asia-Pacific.
Its cornerstone is the reassertion of a U.S. vision offering clarity about American purposes there and a division of responsibility in advancing shared interests in stability, prosperity, and freedom.
The authors urge the Obama administration to seize upon these recommendations and produce its own definitive Asia-Pacific Strategy Report early on to underscore both the U.S. determination to remain engaged and the means by which the United States and its allies, partners and friends together can promote and preserve regional peace and stability.
Ralph A. Cossa is president and Brad Glosserman is executive director at the Pacific Forum CSIS in Honolulu.
