Obama needs some progress with Asia now after his trip

Obama favors very personal references, at times demonstrating a tin ear for history. He describes himself as the “first Pacific President” of the U.S., referring to birth in Hawaii and education for a time in Indonesia. It was President Millard Fillmore who opened Japan to the outside world in 1854 with a letter of friendship. Commodore Matthew Perry delivered the missive, accompanied by a very heavily armed naval flotilla. Fillmore, not a great president, could be labeled “first” in Pacific terms.

President Theodore Roosevelt has the greatest claim to be our first Pacific commander in chief. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for the enormous accomplishment of ending the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. At the time, Roosevelt declared that as the 20th century unfolded, Asia would become in some respects more important than Europe for the United States. In this realm, as in others, history has vindicated TR.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was educated in the Philippines in useful if unpleasant ways as aide to imperious Gen. Douglas MacArthur, used his far-seeing Farewell Address to warn of the growing “military-industrial complex.” He mentioned four very large armed conflicts of the 20th century — the two World Wars and the Korean War along with the Russo-Japanese War. Three of the four were fought in Asia.

The 21st century is relatively more peaceful and promising — so far — permitting government leaders to focus more on economic concerns and less on armed conflict. Obama attended the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit in Singapore, a meeting which strengthened this regional organization as a principal partner of the G-20 in global economic stabilization.

Both China and Japan have enormous economies which are still considerably smaller than the U.S., and pretty predictable partners. Scare stories about China “owning” the U.S. distort a reality in which both national economies are increasingly integrated and mutually dependent. Much of China's trade surplus is earned by American and European multinational corporations, whose employees and stockholders as well as customers in turn benefit.

A quarter century ago, the same scare stories featured Japan, but for two decades that country has been mired in severe recession punctuated by sporadic, fitful growth. No one argues today that Japan is about to replace the U.S.

South Korea is both a very close military ally and an economic friction source. The recent Bush administration achieved an historic free trade agreement with Seoul, but Congressional ratification has been stymied by opposition from U.S. auto makers and unions. Future bilateral talks would include Seoul's special Kaesong industrial area in North Korea. Obama to his credit has given public priority to getting the agreement approved.

President Truman in 1950 supported the U.N. defense of South Korea. That nation returned the favor by providing enormously effective combat troops to support the U.S. in the Vietnam War. Military cooperation with South Korea remains close.

Pres. Obama generated a lot of headlines in Asia, and no doubt goodwill. At some point, he must achieve concrete progress as well.

Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of “After the Cold War” (NYU Press and Macmillan). He can be reached at acyr@carthage.edu.

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