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Barack Obama is in Asia and happily so, I imagine, since his reception has been warm – fawning, really. Indeed, Singapore was abuzz over his arrival and the papers are full of positive coverage on the POTUS. I imagine that there might be no happier place for him these days than the world’s most populous continent (other than Oslo, perhaps – home of the Nobel Peace Prize).
Alas, the health care debate in the US is covered here, but not in an alarmist way, since Singaporeans are neither without coverage (it is universal) nor on the hook for future liabilities. There have been a few op-eds by Singaporeans patting themselves on the back for having such a good system (even The Wall Street Journal editorial pages has sung its praises). Evidence, perhaps, that this Lion City is better governed than the US. But all that has taken a back seat this weekend.
Asians are a commercial people and when they look at the US, they see what is still the world’s largest consumer economy. Therefore, maintaining stability in the relationship – and ensuring that trade continues to flow – is the foremost priority. On that front, Obama has given all the right messages on supporting free trade (traditionally, Republicans are preferred by Asians since they are seen as more mercantile-focused than those pesky Democrats with their focus on issues like human rights). Additionally, the POTUS seems to have walked the fine line of appeasing Japan without offending China, which is, after all, the best way of ensuring that regional tensions do not interfere with trade.
Furthermore, the current kerfuffle over Afghanistan is no issue here. The news is reported but the problem is seen as remote. If anything, people think the US is wasting its resources, leading to the potential premature demise of its empire. While people want the US to remain a customer, the depletion of its power is not lamented in most of Asia, Singapore being an exception because it so values US dominance of the seas as the best way to ensure continued flow of trade through the world’s busiest port.
As for the big news of postponing climate change action, I cannot think of a better place for Obama to have announced that action, since the reason for the postponement is largely on his back for not getting any legislation in place this year. Asian governments are generally not too keen on any sort of binding treaty, as they prefer to grow their economies unfettered. Had the announcement been made in Europe, I imagine the protests would have been fierce. Likewise, in Africa, which is trying to hold Western governments for a ransom over climate change, reaction would not have been positive. I think it was fortuitous that this announcement came from Asia, where the story will have the least impact.
So, all in all, a perfect time for Obama to escape all the criticism in Washington for adulation in Asia. I bet he will miss his honeymoon when he has to get back to the business of government and the hard issues of health care and Afghanistan.
