Asia 'challenges' await for Trump

Asia 'challenges' await for Trump

The 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump, who has just promised a "new chapter of American greatness" during his speech to Congress on Wednesday may have "challenging' times" ahead in dealing with a more dynamic Asia, foreign affairs experts say.

Even though the United States was one of the most important pillars of how Asia seeks peace and stability, Ellen Laipson, president emeritus of the Stimson Centre from Washington DC said America is unavoidably facing a new Asia which now has greater self-esteem than in the past. "Now, we have an Asia that is a more dynamic place with greater confidence, greater prosperity and greater perspicacity to set their own agenda," Ms Laipson said.

Speaking at a public forum titled: "Asian Views on America's Role in Asia: The Future of the Rebalance" at Chulalongkorn University yesterday, Ms Laipson urged the new presidential team to "think through" a range of options they may encounter when dealing with Beijing, as the consequences can affect the rest of Asia.

"There is something between friendly competitive relationships where the United States and China will cooperate in some arenas and disagree and compete in another. America's relations with China are not purely conflictual," she said, referring to phone call which Mr Trump made last December to the Taiwanese leader, which was seen as provocative by China.

The forum, held by the Institution of Security and International Studies, followed a report consisting of a set of strategic recommendations to the incoming US president on foreign policy towards Asia, launched by the Asia Foundation in November last year.

However, Ms Laipson, who is also a former member of President Barack Obama's Intelligence Advisory Board, insisted the new American administration continue its presence in the Asia-Pacific as a counterbalance to China.

She has urged it to put aside the word "rebalance", used in Barack Obama's administration, saying it has been over-analysed in different contexts.

"We should give Mr Trump's administration a little more time to develop their own vocabulary," she said. Ms Laipson asked the United States and parties concerned that backed off from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact to think twice.

Meanwhile, former South Korean foreign minister Yoon Young-Kwan said he believed that Japan, a major supporter of the pact, may go ahead with it without Mr Trump's participation, and was likely to cooperate more with Australia instead of the US on the matter.

"We will watch Prime Minister Abe's move closely," Mr Young-Kwan said.

As Washington DC strives for the right balance between its power and Beijing's in the region, the middle powers -- India, Australia, South Korea, Australia and Japan -- will emerge on the global stage more significantly, said Mr Raja Mohan, founding director of Carnegie India.

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