Asia has no time for games with US
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People's Daily, November 22, 2011
The trip to the recent East Asia Summit proved worthwhile for U.S. President Barack Obama. Although the country's "return to Asia" strategy was not well received at the meeting, Obama was able to announce a massive 21.7-billion-U.S.-dollar order for 230 Boeing jets from Indonesia's largest domestic airline, Lion Air. The White House later said that Obama announced business deals worth at least 25 billion U.S. dollars during the trip, supporting around 127,000 U.S. jobs.
By contrast, China proposed at the summit to set up a 3-billion-yuan maritime cooperation fund between China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations to promote multi-level comprehensive maritime cooperation with the Southeast Asian nations. China announced in 2009 that it would provide 15 billion U.S. dollars in loans to support more than 50 infrastructure projects in almost all ASEAN countries.
This time, China decided to offer ASEAN another 10 billion U.S. dollars in loans, including a preferential loan of 4 billion U.S. dollars. In addition, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Nov. 18 that the country will offer 2 trillion yen, or more than 26 billion U.S. dollars, in aid for the development of infrastructure projects, such as airports and roads in ASEAN countries.
At present, the biggest challenge facing the United States is its sluggish economy, so China should pay greater attention to the economic measures of the superpower, which is actively seeking a "return" to Asia.
The East Asia cooperation based on the 10+3 (ASEAN countries + China, Japan and South Korea) is now developing prosperously. The trade volume between China and the ASEAN has increased to 37 times as much as it was 20 years ago, and the Southeast Asia has turned into Japanese enterprises' largest overseas investment destination.
If Asian countries do not cooperate more closely and reduce their excessive dependence on the Western economy, Asia will turn into a "flooded area" whenever a financial storm comes. Therefore, continuing deepening the practical 10+3 cooperation and strengthening the dominant status of the 10+3 is good for the economic stability and development of the Southeast Asia and even the world.
While the United States is participating in the Asia-Pacific Region cooperation, it should shoulder its responsibility as a great power and make more contribution to the cooperation, peace and development of the region. That is the foundation for the United States to obtain profits in the region in the long run.
As the largest global economy, the United States should depend on its own efforts to recover its economy. If it only cares about strengthening its dominant status and benefiting itself through "calculation," then it is certain that no Asian country will have time or interest to play the old strategic poker game with the United States.
