Hello
delegates!
While
internal politics can be extremely interesting to focus on, you must keep in
mind that there is a larger geo-political framework that effects US-China
relations. Through this blog post, I want to highlight popular opinions that
the US is losing critical influence in the region to China.
America’s
historically steadfast allies in modern times—Australia, Japan and South Korea—are
losing faith in America’s ability and willingness to be a crucial actor in the
politics of the region. According to a Gallup
poll, after a year into Donald Trump’s presidency the image of US
leadership in the world has dropped to a new low (median approval of US
leadership across 134 countries and areas stands at 30%). Although no drastic material
changes in military assets or economic policies have taken place in the last
year, President Trump’s “America First” rhetoric has seem to have had a deep
and lasting effect on the perception of America in the region.
This
can spell danger for American allies that rely on the US for support against
Chinese aggrandizement and aggression: if a South China Sea conflict flares up
again, can Vietnam or other Southeast Asian allies count on President Trump to
steer his nation squarely into the storm to protect international order and
principles?
The
perceived lack of influence has also affected the stature of the United States
in the North Korea conflict. Although a plethora of factors were at play in the
diplomatic exchanges between North Korea and South Korea, some analysts do
believe that one of the factors that resulted in the shunning of the US as a
peace-maker in the region was a perceived lack of influence in the region. Since
President Trump has established himself as a proponent of fighting fire with
fire, America’s “role
as a provider of global stability” has eroded.
Given
this new and evolving dynamic, how should US and Chinese leaders respond to
geo-political shifts in the region? Who will take the lead in crises?
Let me begin by declaring one thing to the United States’ allies: Despite the current rhetoric coming from the White House, America has not changed. We still have your backs, we still support you, and we will fight for you. While the president has made many comments that may seem to go against my words here, I can assure you that what I say is true. I have clarified the president's comments many times to other countries, explaining that they do not have the connotation they believe it has. In the end, the president's words, more or less his tweets, are only words, not actual policy actions. I understand if these words can be infuriating to other nations that the president tweets about in dark light, but they must understand that the American foreign policy remains the same: defend our allies however we can.
ReplyDeleteThroughout our history, it has been shown that American isolationism is of no benefit to our country. In 1914 we watched Britain and and France bleed at the hands of German Militarism until we stood up for our own values and pitched in to the effort. From 1939 to the end of 1941, when the attack on Pearl Harbor forced us into action, we watched from the sidelines as fascists stormed Europe and Asia, pulverizing our friends. In 1950 an oversight left South Korea vulnerable and cost us dearly just as our late entry into World War I and World War II had cost us. These are only a few we’ll known example of the cost to us when isolationism takes hold of our foreign policy. The United States recognizes that our people and allies paid a terrible price for that wrong-headed approach. For the allies who have fought alongside ourselves, know that we will not abandon you. We will stand for you as you have standed for us.
We will help all our allies that are in crises, whether they be in the Middle East or the South China Sea. It is our sacred duty to defend our allies stuck in these catastrophes, whether it be militarily or economically. As Secretary of Defense, I will say that America’s military is still devoted to protecting our rights and our allies rights. Rest assured, the United States Defense Department stands with NATO and all our international friends in arms that our country will continue to help them when they are in crisis. However, all that we ask is that the country that we are helping does their part, shouldering some of the weight of the conflict so the United States does not have to carry the full burden of the crisis. Regardless, help will come when needed.
American engagement in the international world is, in my mind, one of the most important pillars of American democracy. If we fail to lose sight of that, then we are not only failing our forefathers before us and our people, but the whole world that depends on our cooperation. The United States will remain engaged in international affairs in its pursuit for all peoples to be able to have the opportunity to pursue happiness and have liberty, even if our engagement is at a reduced role, that I can promise.
-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis
Works Cited
Ali, Idrees. “Pentagon's Mattis Again Seeks to Reassure U.S. Allies.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 19 Aug. 2017, www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mattis-trump/pentagons-mattis-again-seeks-to-reassure-u-s-allies-idUSKCN1AZ0D0.
“Jim Mattis Is America's Person of the Year.” Financial Times, www.ft.com/content/1f870592-d4ea-11e7-a303-9060cb1e5f44.
In the events that another incident occurs within either the South or East China Sea, the United States will react because our policy will always revolve around the upholding of the principle of freedom of navigation and the importance of international law. We will implement peaceful and a rule based method to settle these disputes. The Trump Administration emphasizes the need for fair trade and regarding the Trump-Quang statement the United States will be affirming the Vietnamese and ensure that the importance of unimpeded and lawful commerce will be instituted within the seas. The United States will be calling upon the full implementation of the ASEAN-China-Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea as well as the 1982 UNCLOS.
ReplyDelete- Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen