The second Obama
administration is keen to achieve positive outcomes with its "rebalancing
toward Asia" policy but its ability to deliver remains questionable,
analysts told a seminar yesterday.
The previous and current Obama administrations have
underscored the importance of the US revitalising its Asian alliances,
particularly with Asean and Thailand, Charles Salmon, a foreign policy adviser
at the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies (APCSS), said.
But the US had also reassured other parts of the world
that the rebalancing act would not undercut security commitments elsewhere, he
told the "Asia Pacific Security in the Next Decades: The US Rebalancing
towards Asia" seminar. The forum was jointly organised by the APCSS and
Chulalongkorn University's Institute of Security and International Studies
(ISIS).
"It is the re-recognition of the Asia Pacific and
continued engagement that is good for Thailand and other alliances, for
example, supporting the region in building up regional architecture like the
Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)," Mr Salmon said.
The TPP is a free trade pact that some see as part of
the so-called Asia "pivot" aimed at reaffirming US power in the face
of China's economic rise.
John Brandon, director of the Asia Foundation's
International Relations Programme, said the US had a strong commitment to the
rebalancing policy but its ability to deliver was questionable.
Asean leaders had sensed that the US had consistently
been absent in the region since 2009, he said.
Ongoing integration within Asean, particularly the
emergence of small- and medium-sized enterprises, was a potential area for US
recalibration, Mr Brandon, who is based in Washington, said. He noted, however,
that US education programmes such as the Fulbright scholarship were declining
due to budget restrictions.
US financial constraints would pose a major challenge
to its ability to "rebalance" in the region, he said.
Robert Fitts, director of the American Studies
Programme at ISIS, said that once the new Chinese leadership completely
consolidates its power in the coming years, Beijing's stronger voice and
assertiveness in the region would become challenging for Washington.
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Health care and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN 's area. We are currently changing the platform of www.yourvietnamexpert.com, if any request, please, contact directly Dr Christian SIODMAK, business strategist, owner and CEO of SBC at christian.siodmak@gmail.com. Many thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment