East Asia's global economy and policy: a private hunting area of US?

Résumé du document

In 1853, the American Commodore Perry and his warships forced Japan to open its market. In 1898, the Philippines became an American colony after the Spanish fleet was destroyed in Manila Bay. In 1900, the United States advocated China in an "open door policy" and Washington formally defended political sovereignty and territorial integrity of China, while demanding the opening of its market to Chinese exports and investment. In subsequent years, the United States consistently opposed the hegemonic ambitions of Japan, from 1905 (Japan's victory over Russia) to 1945 (the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). For a long time, US have been showing interest in Asia's market, through investments and exports. As a super power, the United States tried to establish its culture, its system and its value all over the world. This was combined with events in East Asia, one of the most dynamic and consequential regions in world politics. This, being a very large area (China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia (10+3), attracts all the powerful states of the world.

Extraits

[...] 2001), Americans take up Central Asia to the gates of China and Russia. They have bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Far from a lack of lead from the United States to Asia to the Middle East, the terrorist attacks of September on the contrary, cause a re-engagement of Americans in the region. The United States are increasing their presence on the island of Diego Garcia in the Pacific Ocean. There has been a transfer of troops and equipment in the European theatre to the Asian theatre. [...]

[...] A portion of American leaders believed that the integration of China into the global economy would contribute in the long term to make the transition to democracy. In addition, liberal economists argue that with its cheap products, China has saved billions of dollars to American consumers. It should be borne in mind that the perception that the one country determines the attitude we adopt towards it, which in turn affects its own attitude. According to the historian Thucydides: believe in the inevitability of conflict can become one of its main causes, as each side convinced that this will work out at war with the army camp opposite engages in the military preparations that are interpreted by the other side as confirmation of its worst fears”. [...]

[...] In addition, Asian countries are less likely than others to rehash the colonial past, to become a martyr, a process of victimization. Specifically in October 2000, during the third ASEM summit, has launched the project of a railway link submarine linking Japan to China, on the model of the Channel Tunnel. At the Copenhagen Summit in 2002, the discussions are not restricted to the area of the economy since the participants discussed issues of international terrorism and North Korea. The SARS outbreak in 2002-2003 and avian influenza in 2004- 2005, coming from Asia before reaching Europe, attest to the need for cooperation between the European Union and East Asia in the field of disease prevention. [...]

[...] Finally, Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world by its population. The Jemaah Islamiyah is also active. The United States is well aware that it cannot cut an equally important regional actor. Indonesia occupies a strategic position paramount between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, on the road of oil, which extends from the Middle East to North East Asia. That is why they are showing leniency with regard to Jakarta, in spite of violations of human rights perpetrated in Indonesia. [...]

[...] The United States government insists it is not war on Islam. American diplomats stationed in Asia evoke regularly and insistently assistance by the United States to Kuwaiti, Iraqi Kurds, Bosnians, the Muslims of Kosovo, the Afghans and the Indonesians during the tsunami disaster. Secondly, Washington may be trying to hinder the process of reconciliation between the two Koreas, in order to maintain the territorial status quo in Northeast Asia, as he does so well with Taiwan. Third, US intend to show their hostility to the countries that are helping rogue states to acquire nuclear technology or missile. [...]