INTERVIEW
PICHAI CHUENSUKSAWADI
WASHINGTON : With just six months left in the Oval Office, US President George W. Bush says that his visit to the region, including Thailand, is aimed at giving a reminder that he will be sprinting to the finish, and that he "will finish this job strong".
The president, who will visit South Korea and Thailand en route to the Olympics in Beijing between Aug 4-11, says "not many presidents could say, in the history of US diplomacy, that relations with South Korea, Japan, China and Thailand are strong and robust".
Mr Bush will arrive in Thailand on Wednesday for a two-day visit to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Thai-US bilateral relations.
In a special interview at the White House with the Bangkok Post and senior editors from South Korea and China, Mr Bush said he disagreed with criticism that during his presidency Washington was preoccupied with the War on Terror and allowed China's influence to grow in the region.
Certain academics and American think tanks have also said that the Bush administration's foreign policy footprint in the region has lacked a high-level proactive stance.
"In terms of foreign policy in the Far East, it is mistaken if someone were to say that my preoccupation was on the War on Terror. You bet I wanted to make sure that we protected ourselves at home. But that's the same sentiment other people have.
"Secondly, our foreign policy has been robust in the Far East. Our relations with your country [Thailand], South Korea, with Japan and with China have never been better. And it took a lot of work to get bilateral relations as strong as they are."
The president recognised the growth of China and India and he views this as positive, adding that in his view diplomacy was not a zero-sum game.
"India and China and the US will provide great opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses throughout the region," he said.
"And they'll provide opportunities for development of services and goods that people in our big markets want. It provides great opportunities for capital flows that are - foreign direct investment, which is necessary for economic development. It'll provide opportunities to work collaboratively on strong strategic areas, security areas. One area will be - there's a great opportunity for all of us to cooperate on the environment," he said.
Mr Bush said it is important for the US to remain engaged, not only with China and India but with the rest of the region through existing multilateral processes.
"And one way to do that - the reason I brought up multilateralism, is one way to stay engaged is through the mechanisms like the six-party talks on the Korean issue.
"Our vision is, once that issue gets solved, if North Korea verifiably gives up its weapons, programmes, ambitions, then the six-party talks can serve as another mechanism."
Mr Bush said that while the US should remain actively engaged with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), conversely Asean should say: "We're your friends, Don't just focus on the big guys, think about us."
Mr Bush also backs the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) process, adding that although he will be "semi-retired" by November, he will be going to the annual Apec leaders' conference.
"And so the United States has got a forward-leaning foreign policy in the Far East. When people take an objective look at this administration, we have been very much engaged. And I believe I'll be leaving office with the Far East in as good as shape as it can be from a US perspective."
With regards to China-US relations, President Bush said both sides had worked on currency and trade issues, adding that it has been an interesting relationship where both have been able to work through common problems and seize common opportunities. He was also keen on defence cooperation and exchanges.
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