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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has managed to time her trip to Asia perfectly; she’s left the continent during the Democratic Convention. She has several very good reasons for leaving right at this point although some might have been surprised at the timing. Earlier this week, Secretary Clinton attended the Pacific Island Forum on Rarotonga in the Cook Islands with the head of the Pacific Command, Admiral Locklear. While attending the Forum, Clinton and Locklear announced continuing U.S. development aid for the Pacific region along with assistance combating trafficking and illegal fishing.
There are several reasons for attending the Forum and for visiting, among others, China, Indonesia and Russia. But one reason stands out: China. Not only does China hold most of the U.S. debt, they also are the superpower in Southeast Asia and are looking to expand their direct influence in that region. U.S. foreign policy toward China has been containment (similar to policy regarding the former Soviet Union) combined with a generally good trade relationship and a sometimes rocky military and political relationship (the Tian’anmen Square massacre, NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, the collision of a U.S. spy plane with a Chinese fighter plane). The current dispute centers on (or uses as an excuse – your call), competing claims to a small island about 220 miles off the southern tip of China (20 miles beyond the UN sanctioned 200 mile territorial limits). China is planning on building a city and garrisoning a military unit on the island. Such a strategically valuable position would give China control over a wide area of the southeast Pacific, rich in oil and minerals, that is also claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam.
The Obama administration has endorsed an ASEAN declaration of principles regarding the South China Sea and Clinton, speaking for the White House, has urged ASEAN “…members and China to make meaningful progress together toward finalizing a comprehensive ‘code of conduct’ to establish ‘clear procedures for peacefully addressing disagreements’.”
China, unsurprisingly, is not happy with U.S. actions and words regarding the Southeast Pacific region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei noted “countries outside the region should respect the countries concerned and take a stance of non- intervention.” However, other countries in the region have voiced their approval of the U.S. stance; ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan told Clinton that member nations consider the U.S. to be a “true friend.”
At the end of WWII, the U.S. created a number of economic and security obligations for itself. While many may wish those obligations did not exist, they do, and we as a nation must deal with what’s in front of us, not what we wish were there. In taking this path, President Obama is maintaining a foreign policy towards China that, while it has changed in the particulars, has not changed in the general attitude and ideas. Unlike the 19th century China, which preferred to stay isolated and out of world affairs, the 21st century China is taking an active interest in world affairs and is seeking influence and control through a variety of methods. Because of this and those pre-existing obligations, the U.S. will continue to have an influential role in the Pacific region.
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And the fact that she is a former rival that will be unavailable for questions during the convention might have had something to do with the timing as well.
Well, yeah. I was trying to imply that. I’ll get obvious next time!
I tried to explain earlier, I am just bumbling through this day – all subtlety is lost on me today.
People who don’t worship Hillary Clinton’s God will be kept out of pubilc office? Do the Obama and Clinton belong to the same denomination? If not it would appear that Obama’s Church has the correct conception of God. By Hilary Clinton’s logic, if she really wants to be the prez she should convert to Obama’s church.
It really is rather interesting timing…
Another solid post Becky. It’s a very delicate dance with China these days and not an easy one for anyone who isn’t a life long scholar of the socio-economic and political history of the region. Working in an industry where China is the only real growing market has caused me to get a very slight education on doing business in and around that country. Enough to know that the average small American business is ill-equipped to deal with the nuances of that culture without a huge amount of research and education. China’s active interest in the world is going to be challenge for all of us in my opinion and I hope that the U.S. is not cavalier in its approach to dealing with them. They operate under a very different set of rules and expectations and values. Not less than our own, simply different.
Becky – Not trying to nitpick but when you say, “Not only does China hold most of the U.S. debt . . . ” that can be misleading to the readers of your blog.
Here is a quote for you.
“As of May 2011 the largest single holder of U.S. government debt was China, with 26 percent of all foreign-held U.S. Treasury securities which is 8% of total U.S. public debt.”
Note that China’s holdings is 8% (a very significant percent) of U.S. public debt.
That said, a lot of people do not understand that “public debt” is only a part of the true debt of our government and hence the debt of the taxpayers.
Public Debt currently stands at about $15.959 trillion, National Debt just went over the $16 trillion mark, and TOTAL US Debt is over $56.987 trillion.
All of that said, a well written blog and I enjoyed reading it.
Thought you might be interested in this quote from today’s The Hill :
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday noted it is “tradition” for the current secretary of State to skip political conventions.
“Indeed, I didn’t go to the 2008 convention,” she told Fox News’s “Fox and Friends.”
True, but Hillary Clinton is not your average Secretary of State….Rice was not a former rival for the job of President. There was speculation before the convention as to whether she would attend.
Because most women who are really good lnoikog and hot don’t have to go to work to make money. They can use their good looks to get married to wealthy men who pay their way. That’s how it works today here in America.The fugly women are successful because they actually have to work to make money. So they’re successful to make up for their ugliness.This may sound really mean and crude, but it’s the way things are in America. Sad, but true.Women try to get with the weathiest men and men try to get with the most attractive women.
Hate to bring a dose of reality to your conversation, but cabinet members usually do not attend the conventions, but rather try to stay apolitical.
There was speculation? Can you cite some? By anyone who actually knew what they were talking about ?
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/05/opinion/ghitis-hillary-clinton-convention/index.html
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/09/06/should-hillary-clinton-be-speaking-at-the-democratic-national-convention
But, PD, you’re focusing on one tiny piece of this post. I’m focusing on US actions in the Pacific. So, harass me all you want on the protocol of cabinet members attending conventions, but that is not the focus of this piece.