Asian Views of the United States and Multilateralism 2004-2005: Mixed Messages Sent, Mixed Messages Received
Abstract
Asia s reactions to U.S. foreign policy began and ended the year on similar notes: generally but not unanimously emphasizing the unilateral nature of America s engagement with the world. In January, following President Bush s State of the Union address, editorial comment throughout Asia focused on the unilateralist tendencies within U.S. policy. At year s end, following President Bush s re-election, the thrust remained although, as former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew noted in December, that did not mean that national leaders in Asia (if not commentators) wished for President Bush to be defeated. Public comment from Asia s governments on the United States approach to foreign policy in 2004 was restrained, but a desire for the U.S. to be more inclusive and to enhance its international cooperation also figured in official statements. For its part, the United States emphasized its theme of some years that multilateral cooperation was not an end in itself but a process that had to be effective if it were to have value. International reaction to America s multilateralist philosophies in 2004 has its roots most recently in the series of decisions made by the administration in the period following the 2000 presidential election. In the space of a few months the administration withdrew from, rejected or renounced a series of international initiatives it considered to be unworkable or not in the United States national interests. These included the Kyoto protocol on global warming, the International Criminal Court, the international land mines convention, the biological and toxin weapons convention, the international plan for cleaner energy and the anti-ballistic missile treaty. For each decision the United States had, at least, an arguable case (backed by Congress s refusal to ratify some if not all of these pacts).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA627482
Entities
People
- Jim Rolfe
Organizations
- Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies