Mrs. Clinton's Asia Tour

By Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

With conflicting statements, vague policy formulations and confusing arguments, the new US government led by Barack Obama has just begun its shuttle diplomacy to boost its global image and advance its interests abroad. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with a stated view of broadening and deepening American ties with Asia, has just begun her week-long Asia tour covering Japan, China, South Korea and Indonesia- these constitute the least problem states for USA. The stops reflect the diversity of ties the US has in the region. USA seeks to assume a leading role again on climate change, pandemic prevention, nuclear proliferation, on all of these serious threats and challenges that we face.

Hillary Clinton confirms there is a pent-up desire on the part of the US government under the Obama administration, as well as partners around the world, that "we begin to work together to solve a lot of our common problems." Clinton told the BBC: "Going to Asia signals that the US is not just a transatlantic power but also a transpacific power. USA seems to be looking to create partnerships and opportunities for co-operation that they believe are in US national security interests and in keeping with American values. While some saw China as an adversary, Clinton stressed that the US was keen to work more collaboratively with China and said there were real opportunities to develop a good relationship with Beijing on issues such as climate change and clean energy. Ties between the two countries have in the past focused on the economy, but Clinton and the state department now seem to be taking the lead in managing that relationship. It is the first time since the 1960s that a secretary of state has made Asia the destination of a first trip in office.

Her trip to Asia, including South Korea is aimed at bullying North Korea and it comes amid speculation in regional media outlets that North Korea may be preparing for a long-range missile test. Mrs. Clinton said North Korea's nuclear plans, the economic crisis and climate change would top the agenda. As before the US Secretary of state begun the tour and warned North Korea against "provocative action" but stressed the wide range of incentives for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. Earlier, giving her first big foreign policy speech at New York's Asia Society, Mrs. Clinton urged North Korea not to take any "provocative action" that would undermine talks on the issue.

Clinton made clear that the US would hold Pyongyang to its commitment to give up its nuclear program in return for diplomatic concessions and economic aid. She described the country's nuclear program as "the most acute challenge to stability in north-east Asia" and said the nations involved in six-party talks on the issue would need to work together to make progress. "If North Korea is genuinely prepared to completely and verifiably eliminate their nuclear weapons program, the Obama administration will be willing to normalize bilateral relations", she said. 

Pyongyang, meanwhile, has exposed the US gimmicks and says it is not receiving the aid promised in the 2007 aid-for-disarmament deal. The six-party talks, involving the US, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea, as well as North Korea, have been stalled for months The US has concerns about how to verify Pyongyang's past nuclear activities and wants North Korea to disclose its full nuclear arsenal.. The USA would also be prepared "to replace the peninsula's long-standing armistice agreements with a permanent peace treaty, and assist in meeting the energy and other economic needs of the North Korean people.

For the first time in history, US foreign policy is disarray globally. The deepening resentment against US foreign policies in Asia, presence of American military bases in 60 countries, forced implementation of Washington economic model resulting in increased poverty, unemployment, and undermining of democracy and state institutions in developing world are cases in point. Emerging US foreign policy, as stated by Vice Present Biden in Munich also lacks respect for international and humanitarian law, and vision for global peace and harmony. US policy is still based on vested stakes and assumption US has the right to intervene any where in the world.

Double-speaks and similar standards on regional crises have caused world justice dearly, especially in Asia. The Obama administration seems to be viewing global issues in a global perspective without making any corresponding changes in US policies. President Obama can showcase that change has come to Washington and the world over now and seize the opportunity to help resolve Kashmir and Palestine issues in accordance to UN resolutions without fail. He has to make ME nuclear free zone by getting Israeli nuclear arsenals dismantled and call for accountability of states that in violation of NPT helped Israel become a nuclear state. This would herald new era in Asia and ME. America should lead the world without any self interests. If USA expects world support, it is time it upholds aspirations of people of US occupied territories across the world and start withdrawing forces from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. West and Washington's as much Indian concern over Qadeer Khan's honorable acquittal is baseless. But, ironically, like nine-eleven the trio of Washington, Delhi and Tel Aviv is using self-staged Mumbai drama to realize respective objectives in the region. Israel is keen to force the only Muslim nuclear state to abandon its nuclear program to protect Israeli security and interests in ME and turn Pakistan into a satellite state of India. Tel Aviv-Delhi nexus is helping Washington to pressurize Islamabad to support NATO Afghan mission in return for stalling resolution of Kashmir issue and to allow strategic geographic access to Washington to the region in terms of China and Russia. .

Will US foreign policy change ever? is the moot question being asked every where today. Mrs. Clinton's Asia tour should not a mere shuttle tour meeting people and warning its enemies in dirtiest possible words of threats. In stead, Obama-Clinton should make every possible effort to resolve the crisis in every region with full commitment and complete dedication. Just talks and threatening tones alone are not enough. Bush-Rice teams revealed that. Equality and justice should be the hallmark of the Obama team efforts.  

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Yours Sincerely,

DR.ABDUL RUFF Colachal

Columnist & Independent Researcher in World Affairs, The only Indian to have gone through entire India

South Asia.