Lack of U.S. focus on East Asia

Lack of U.S. focus on East Asia

Since 9/11 and against the backdrop of the mess in Iraq, the United States has been less engaged in dealing with the core geopolitical and geo-economic problems of East Asia.

If anything, its approach toward East Asia has been dominated by reactive and ad hoc policies. Even more troubling has been the failure of the Bush administration to develop a coherent strategy toward China.

Instead, U.S. policy is looking more and more like a set of confused responses to the pressures coming from a coalition of protectionists, neoconservative ideologues and China bashers.

It's not surprising, therefore, that the United States is finding itself more and more marginalized as it faces a more diplomatically engaged China.

It would be in everyone's interests if America developed a more coherent strategy toward East Asia as it continues to promote its agenda in the Middle East. -- Business Times, Singapore