Why 2012 will shake up Asia and the world

[xchrom]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/MJ06Dg01.html

The United States has long styled itself a Pacific power. It established the model of counter-insurgency in the Philippines in 1899 and defeated the Japanese in World War II. It faced down the Chinese and the North Koreans to keep the Korean Peninsula divided in 1950, and it armed the Taiwanese to the teeth.

Today, America maintains the most powerful military in the Pacific region, supported by a constellation of military bases, bilateral alliances and about 100,000 service personnel.

It has, however, reached the high-water mark of its Pacific presence and influence. The geopolitical map is about to be redrawn. Northeast Asia, the area of the world with the greatest


concentration of economic and military power, is on the verge of a regional transformation. And the US, still preoccupied with the Middle East and hobbled by a stalled and stagnating economy, will be the odd man out.

Elections will be part of the change. Next year, South Koreans, Russians and Taiwanese will all go to the polls. In 2012, the Chinese Communist Party will also ratify its choice of a new leader to take over from President Hu Jintao. He will be the man expected to preside over the country's rise from the number two spot to the pinnacle of the global economy.

[Uncle Joe]

1. This is a good analysis and I agree with the author's conclusion.

Still, the trend lines for 2012 and after point to greater engagement on the Korean Peninsula, across the Taiwan Strait and between Asia and Europe. Right now, the United States, for all of its military clout, is not really part of this emerging picture. Isn't it time for America to gracefully acknowledge that its years as the Pacific superpower are over and think creatively about how to be a pacific partner instead?

Thanks for the thread, xchrom.

[xchrom]

2. sure thing

:thumbsup: