Report: Asia Requires Urgent U.S. Attention
In a report released recently, top Asian and U.S. foreign policy experts urge incoming US administration to put Asia at top of agenda.
The health of the U.S. economy is now tied to Asia in fundamental ways that, if not grasped quickly by the incoming presidential administration, could have unintended, adverse consequences, according to America’s Role in Asia: Asian and American Views, a newly published volume of foreign policy recommendations written by 20 distinguished Asian and U.S. experts and released this morning in Washington. Although relations with China are generally constructive, the report states, the U.S. must, in order to minimize threats to American security and prosperity, maintain a constructive response as China continues to rise. Further, the report underscores the importance of responding to the “rise of the rest” by adjusting the membership in various international organizations. Convened and supported by The Asia Foundation, this landmark report is the product of a year of high-level, closed-door discussions across Asia and in the U.S. that addressed critical bilateral and trans-national issues in U.S.-Asia relations, including Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, energy security, environmental degradation, Asia’s regional alliances, trade, and investment.
Published on a quadrennial cycle, America’s Role in Asia provides U.S. policymakers with concrete recommendations on how to address pressing challenges and opportunities in Asia. Further, in order to put Asia on the party platforms for the 2008 Democratic and Republican conventions, advance summaries of the recommendations were recently hand-delivered to top foreign policy advisors to both candidates.
“The region needs urgent attention,” agreed Ambassador Michael Armacost and Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy, American co-chairs of America’s Role in Asia. “The most consequential emerging powers—China and India—are casting longer shadows, and America’s relative power is declining. The new administration must accord Asia the attention its intrinsic importance to us demands.”
For a full copy of the report, executive summaries, and press release, click here.
