Clinton in Asia

Camikaze

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From CNN:
Hillary Clinton says her first overseas trip to Asia as U.S. secretary of state is aimed at creating a "network of partners" to tackle problems that no nation can deal with alone, including the global economic crisis.

Hillary Clinton seeks improved relations with China, where she said the U.S. would renew military contacts.

En route to Asia on Sunday, Clinton told reporters that the economy would serve as the backdrop of her trip, and she intends to explain steps the United States is taking with its $787 billion stimulus bill. She said she will be "seeking cooperation on ways that we are going to work through these very difficult economic times."

Clinton is slated to travel to Japan, China, South Korea and Indonesia to discuss a range of issues, including mutual economic recovery, trade, the prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation and reversing the global warming trend.

The trip represents a departure from a diplomatic tradition under which the first overseas trip by the secretary of state in a new administration is to Europe.

Speaking at the New York-based Asia Society last week, Clinton said the Obama administration wants to "develop a broader and deeper" relationship with Asia, a region that has felt overlooked by the United States despite its growing global importance.

"It demonstrates clearly that our new administration wants to focus a lot of time and energy in working with Asian partners and all the nations in the Pacific region," she said, "because we know that so much of our future depends upon our relationships there." Watch David Lampton of John Hopkins University discuss Clinton's trip »

On Sunday, she addressed North Korea's nuclear program, which she's called "the most acute challenge to stability in northeast Asia." Clinton said the Obama administration is prepared to seek a permanent, stable peace with Pyongyang as long as its regime pursues disarmament and does not engage in aggression against neighboring South Korea. The United States has a "great openness and willingness to working with them," she said.

Much of Clinton's conversations during this week's travels will be dominated by the global financial meltdown. She said despite the financial crisis, the United States hopes to expand trade with countries in the region.

She called for an improved relationship with China, where she said the United States would shortly renew military-to-military contacts. She will also try to establish closer cooperation on climate change with China, which has surpassed America as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

Todd Stern, her new envoy for climate change, is accompanying Clinton on the trip.

Officials said Clinton had hoped to name a special envoy for North Korea before leaving for Asia to signal the Obama administration's commitment to addressing North Korea's nuclear program, but that the timing and specifics of the job were still being worked out. Clinton has said she hopes to name the envoy "soon."

So what is the purpose of Clinton's trip to Asia? What is the the significance of this being her first trip as Secretary of State? Does it signify a shift towards Asian predominance in US foreign policy? Does this talk mean any action on global warming is more likely? What will the Obama Administration's stance and attitude towards Asia, particularly China, be?
 
That's just a swallow, feeble comment by my side, but it really seems that the US is doing very well so far with it's new administration! I hope that this political and diplomatic course of America will continue and is not just a weak attempt to repair some bloopers carried out by Bush & Co.
 
That's just a swallow, feeble comment by my side, but it really seems that the US is doing very well so far with it's new administration! I hope that this political and diplomatic course of America will continue and is not just a weak attempt to repair some bloopers carried out by Bush & Co.
All they said was "she's going off to Asia" and you're going to tout them for avoiding the mistakes of the Bush administration, even when nothing new or different from the previous administration's policies has been stated thus far in conjunction with this whole thing? I mean, wow, really?
 
All they said was "she's going off to Asia" and you're going to tout them for avoiding the mistakes of the Bush administration, even when nothing new or different from the previous administration's policies has been stated thus far in conjunction with this whole thing? I mean, wow, really?

So what do you think the point of her gong to Asia is? And do you think they are going to do anything new or different to the previous administration in regard to Asia?
 
All they said was "she's going off to Asia" and you're going to tout them for avoiding the mistakes of the Bush administration, even when nothing new or different from the previous administration's policies has been stated thus far in conjunction with this whole thing? I mean, wow, really?
But Dachs, all I was saying was that it seems that America is now readily undertaking some serious re-considering of its position in the world and thereby also taking the opinions and recommendations of the leaders of other nations (read: its allies) by heart. The Iraq War was started, despite the disagreement of many political figures throughout the world and a big percentage of the civilians in the US and abroad, and America didn't make many friends with Abu Ghraib or Gitmo either. I hate to say it, but the downfall or the rise of the US affects the rest of the world as well, and to see a new administration which is honestly willing to establish and to repair some relationships with its partners is surely a good thing to see.
 
So what do you think the point of her gong to Asia is?
It's the start of the Administration. They've been engaging in diplomatic talks for quite some time now, and this is probably an extension of that.
Camikaze said:
And do you think they are going to do anything new or different to the previous administration in regard to Asia?
Maybe, maybe not. I think it's a bit early in the Administration to embark on bold new foreign policy directions, especially if they didn't see a whole lot of coverage during his campaign.

EDIT:
eastsidebagel said:
But Dachs, all I was saying was that it seems that America is now readily undertaking some serious re-considering of its position in the world and thereby also taking the opinions and recommendations of the leaders of other nations (read: its allies) by heart.
You're getting that from the article?
eastsidebagel said:
The Iraq War was started, despite the disagreement of many political figures throughout the world and a big percentage of the civilians in the US and abroad, and America didn't make many friends with Abu Ghraib or Gitmo either. I hate to say it, but the downfall or the rise of the US affects the rest of the world as well, and to see a new administration which is honestly willing to establish and to repair some relationships with its partners is surely a good thing to see.
Establish and repair relationships that were maintained in more or less the same fashion by the previous administration, which is my point. This isn't a bold new outreach program. From what the article is saying, this is "hi, we didn't forget you, how're you doing, please don't screw up our economy and we'll try not to screw up yours".

And you hate the fact that America affects the rest of the world? Interesting sentiment.
 
So what do you think the point of her gong to Asia is? And do you think they are going to do anything new or different to the previous administration in regard to Asia?
Yes, I just read that D.C. is now trying to initiate a permanent, stable peace treaty with North Korea, which is certainly preferable to just labeling them as a part of the "Axis of Evil".
If Obama is going this way for the whole four years of his first term, there might be a good chance for America to stabilize and to win old and new friendships as well.
 
Yes, I just read that D.C. is now trying to initiate a permanent, stable peace treaty with North Korea, which is certainly preferable to just labeling them as a part of the "Axis of Evil".
If Obama is going this way for the whole four years of his first term, there might be a good chance for America to stabilize and to win old and new friendships as well.

Yeah. Also, becoming friendlier with China is probably a step in the right direction. It's probably best to establish a positive relationship between the two major world powers. And also it'll be good for Australia.

Overall, I think a more diplomatic and consultative approach is needed to American foreign policy, and that this trip to Asia is a good starting point.
 
Yeah. Also, becoming friendlier with China is probably a step in the right direction. It's probably best to establish a positive relationship between the two major world powers. And also it'll be good for Australia.

Was the Bush admin unfriendly to China? I don't get it.
 
Yes, I just read that D.C. is now trying to initiate a permanent, stable peace treaty with North Korea, which is certainly preferable to just labeling them as a part of the "Axis of Evil".

You mean we are going to bribe North Korea again?
 
What is the the significance of this being her first trip as Secretary of State?
It's meaningless.

Does it signify a shift towards Asian predominance in US foreign policy?
Maybe.

Does this talk mean any action on global warming is more likely?
How is this relevant?

What will the Obama Administration's stance and attitude towards Asia, particularly China, be?
Worshipful, most likely. "Please keep selling us your slave-produced poisonous garbage."
 
It would only make sense. Japan and China are #2 and #3 economically and U.S. interests long term are to compete with Germany and Japan for China's import market.

Who wouldn't want to sell into a market that went from $200 household income in 1978 to $2000 today to $10,000 over the next 20 or so years?
 
This just indicates China's growing influence.
 
From CNN:


So what is the purpose of Clinton's trip to Asia?

Hillary Clinton says her first overseas trip to Asia as U.S. secretary of state is aimed at creating a "network of partners" to tackle problems that no nation can deal with alone, including the global economic crisis.

:hammer2: :lol:
 
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