America’s Changing Image in Asia : Causes and Consequences

1. America’s Changing Image in Asia : Causes and Consequences Narongchai Akrasanee, Ph.D. Presentation at the USC Asia Conference Seoul, South Korea 28-30 October 2004

2. America’s War Winning Image in East Asia • 1942 – 1945 : Winning the (Second) World War • 1946 – 1953 : Winning the Nation’s Building War • 1950 – 1975 : Winning the Communism War • 1970 – 1986 : Winning the Cold War • 1986 – 2000 : Winning the Economic War • 2001 --- : Winning the Terrorism War • Conclusion

3. I. 1942 – 1945 : Winning the World War II “In the days and in the years that are to come we shall work for a just and honorable peace, a durable peace, as today we work and fight for total victory in war” Franklin D. Roosevelt, 4th Inaugural Address, Jan 20, 1945 • The US took up on the side of the Allies and contributed USD 341 billion toward winning WW II • Japan, the only major Asian country on the other side of the War, posed a real security threat to the US after the Pearl Harbor attack on 7 December 1941 • After winning the war, The US became the major Western power in Asia. It was in the position to spread influences over all East Asian countries.

4. II. 1946 – 1953 : Winning the Nation’s Building War • After WWII all East Asian countries became preoccupied with nation – building • The US wanted to influence the way a nation was to be “re-built”. A nation built on the foundation of democracy and market economy, the American ideals, would ensure the nation’s alliance with the US. • Succeeded in Japan • Establishing South Korea to be on its side, after the Korean War (1950-1953)

5. II. 1946 – 1953 : Winning the Nation’s Building War (cont.) • It lost China to Chairman Mao and communism. (September 1949) • It ensured the viability of Taiwan, having Taiwan on the side of the US. • In SEA and Indochina, the US had five countries on its side, with varying degrees of closeness. • The Philippines was close to the US, partly for historical reason • Followed by Thailand, Malaysia/Singapore (after gaining independence from the British in 1957/1959), and much later, Indonesia (after Suharto took power in 1965).

6. III. 1950 – 1975 : Winning the Communism War • The rivalry between socialism / communism led by China and the Soviet Union, and capitalism / democracy, led by the US • The US again had to win this “communism war” “ The American people desire, and are determined to work for, a world in which all nations and all peoples are free to govern themselves as they see fit, and to achieve a decent and satisfying life. ” Harry S. Truman, Inaugural Address, Jan 20, 1949

7. III. 1950 – 1975 : Winning the Communism War (cont.) • It went almost all of the way to fight this “communism war”, as highlighted by the Vietnam War (1965-1975). • The US lost South Vietnam to communist North Vietnam, but it was able to contain communism in China, Indochina, and North Korea. • The rest of East Asia adopted varying forms of democracy and market capitalism.

8. IV. 1970 – 1986 : Winning the Cold War • The rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union in the building up of nuclear arsenal and anti-ballistic missile capability caused chill all over the world including East and Southeast Asia.

9. IV. 1970 – 1986 : Winning the Cold War (cont.) “Let us continue to bring down the walls of hostility which have divided the world for too long, and to build in their place bridges of understanding – so that despite profound differences between systems of government, the people of the world can be friends.” Richard M. Nixon, 2nd Inaugural Address, Jan 20, 1973 • Normalize the relationship with China • Visit to China of Kissinger in Oct 1971, and President Nixon in Feb 1972 • Helped by the role played by Deng Xiao Ping from 1977 (limited form of market capitalism)

10. IV. 1970 – 1986 : Winning the Cold War (cont.) • The luck turned on the US side when Gorbachev became President of the Soviet Union in 1985 • “Perestroika”, the first launch of policy reform • The Cold War started to dissipate from July 1986 (Valadivostock speech)

11. V. 1986 – 2000 : Winning the Economic War • The fall of the Berlin Wall on 9th November 1989, “The end of history”--- Francis Fukushima. But, the start of Economic War • No political war to fight, the US went on economic offensive, taking the world into the process of liberalization, particularly during Clinton’s Presidency

12. V. 1986 – 2000 : Winning the Economic War (cont.) “ To renew America, we must meet challenges abroad as well at home. There is no longer division between what is foreign and what is domestic; the world economy, the world environment…. ; they affect us all.” William J. Clinton, 1st Inaugural Address, Jan 20, 1993

13. V. 1986 – 2000 : Winning the Economic War (cont.) • Concluded NAFTA in 1992. • Hosted the first APEC Summit in Seattle in 1993. • Played an important role in bringing the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations to conclusion in 1993 • Instrumental in setting the direction for WTO’s works from December 1996. • Strong support to the IMF in the IMF’s efforts in the financial sector’s liberalization in East Asia.

14. V. 1986 – 2000 : Winning the Economic War (cont.) • Liberalization brought a lot of capital to developing East Asian countries, so much so that it led to financial bubble and economic crises in several East Asian countries. • At the time of crisis the image of the US was that of the financial predator in the form of hedge funds. • It was not known to be helpful at all when the severely affected countries were seeking help to restore financial stability.

15. VI. 2001 --- : Winning the Terrorism War • The relatively peaceful world came to an abrupt end at the incident of 9/11/2001 • Since then the US has become preoccupied with leading the war against international terrorism, claimed to be related to certain “Muslim groups”. • The US’s unilateral move into Afghanistan in October 2001, and into Iraq in March 2003, seemed to have led to the spread rather than the stop of international terrorism.

16. VI. 2001 --- : Winning the Terrorism War (cont.) • A few countries in East Asia have become involved in the process. • The US has got APEC to formally enter into cooperation to fight against international terrorism, as confirmed by the APEC Bangkok Statement of October 2003. • At present the US still appears to be preoccupied with the war against international terrorism, which does not seem to have any end in sight.

17. VI. 2001 --- : Winning the Terrorism War (cont.) • The international terrorism is likely to last along time. • A mutually acceptable solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict is not expected soon. So the status quo in that area will remain. • Greater concern to East Asia is the lack of consensus on the form of “ Islamic state ”. • This is the line to be drawn between the state and the religion, or the government and the “ Islamic way of life ”.

18. VI. 2001 --- : Winning the Terrorism War (cont.) • An extreme form is the two combined into one. • Another extreme form is to completely separate the two.  • The solution will lie somewhere in between, and will vary from area to area.

19. Conclusion • US insisting on democracy and/or market economy • Strategy - unilateral “ war winning ” (the end justifies the mean) not - multilateral “ peace seeking” or “differences accommodating” (the mean has to be justified)

20. Conclusion (cont.) Image : Political, military and/or economic superpower Consequences : Endless involvement in political, military and/or economic conflicts all over the world