A View From Within: Obama In Southeast Asia And Xi Jinping’s China

By Johnny C | Tuesday, November 20, 2012 | 17 Comments

Thanks for visiting 8Asians, a blog about Asian American issues. If you find this interesting, subscribe to the RSS feed, visit our Facebook Page or add us on Twitter!

asia A View From Within: Obama In Southeast Asia And Xi Jinpings China

Obama’s re-election is already old news and the calls of secession are becoming yesterday’s cocktail stories, but the big issue is that his first order of duty is his international tour to Southeast Asia to meet with ASEAN leaders on 18 November, and his historic visit to Burma (Myanmar). What does this mean, exactly? It means we should be pretty excited that this is another piece of evidence that this is the Pacific Century–especially with the Chinese handover of power from Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping as the new Chinese Communist Party Chief.

On election night, much of the expat community in Bangkok (American and non-American alike) all had drinks ready by 10:00am local time, fully-aware that if Obama won, we would be drunk just after noon to celebrate a collective sigh of relief, and if Romney were to bring in a new regime, we would poison our livers as he was very likely to bring the U.S. to a level of incompetence worse than George W. Bush years, especially with his stance on China. Worse, we were preparing for the American Exodus of those ready to move overseas instead of being stuck in the Holy Yeoman Empire of the Scum under Romney. To the collective relief of many, Obama was re-elected, and Khaosarn Road erupted into a celebration of ecstasy decadence. Now that that’s over, people are aware of two momentous and monumental changes that this month has brought to the region.

Let it be said that Obama’s internationalist outlook and upbringing (especially as a Third Culture Kid) are a complete contrast to Romney and George W. Bush–something that much of the world appreciates in spite of his track record being less than spotless. It’s a year where anyone but an internationalist will not survive the winds of change that have come in this year alone–Burma opening up and moving towards reintegrating itself onto the world stage, China’s new leadership, Japan and Korea fighting over some rocks in the Pacific, and much, much more.

For Obama to be going to Asia as his first international priority has everything to do with the above changes and wave of events in progress or about to occur. It would be ignoble to ignore the significance of the region even without these events and changes, and Obama is fully aware of this. Likewise, the Chinese leadership change is about as big as it can get out here–although not the edge-of-your-seat ride the U.S. presidential elections were, but significant enough to know that the world is dealing with a new generation that has yet to demonstrate its personality, the way Hu’s China showed a prosperous time and a very strong anti-corruption stance.

Strictly speaking, if passive international relations enthusiasts were to look at the trip in terms of signalling, here’s a few messages we can infer from Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia:

1) Thailand is the hub for many industries and activities in much of Pacific Asia–media, non-government organizations, and international government organizations all have a presence in Bangkok, so it’s an easy way to reach out to as many parties possible while on tour;

2) Creating a relationship on the ground instead of the sidelines sets several precedents: i) it encourages more active dialogue and involvement between Burma’s government and outsiders, something that has historically not been received well by the military junta, ii) it sets the tone for the American relationship with the “new” Burma, iii) it is an attempt to address the issue of the Muslim Rohingnya refugees with no status or citizenship and the Rakhine state;

3) Cambodia, in meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen just ahead of the East Asia Summit, to pay respects for the death of former King Sihanouk and to address Cambodia’s dismal record on human rights, especially as of lately with forced evictions and attacking dissenters.

To some Sinophiles, this is also an indirect way of hinting to China Obama’s assertiveness to manage China’s rise. Although the relationship has been strained according to some views, there’s a little more optimism post-elections now that actions speak louder than campaign words.

Asia-Pacific is a big priority for Obama–and for members of the Pacific community, we have high hopes for what this all could mean, domestically and internationally. At the moment, however, the South China Sea topic for ASEAN is going to be high on that agenda.

[Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post]

Categories:

Current EventsPolitics

NOTE: 8Asians.com is a community, and we thank you for being a part of it. While we welcome and appreciate differences in opinion, if you're rude or you're promoting spam, we have a right to edit or delete your comment. Read our comment policy for more information.

If you see a comment that violates the 8Asians.com comment policy, you may flag the comment by mousing over the comment and clicking "FLAG."

Facebook Comments (Beta)

LTE2

“Romney were to bring in a new regime, we would poison our livers as he was very likely to bring the U.S. to a level of incompetence worse than George W. Bush years, especially with his stance on China.”
.
Only Nixon could go to China. Romney took the right approach regarding China, that the American people would come first. Romney has a sharp mind and can take apart situations quickly.
.
On the other hand…
Xi Jinping has said, he has 300 million under employed and unemployed to deal with and he is going to do what he can for them so if the west thinks he will take their dictation, they have another thought coming.
.
Obama SHOULD have been in Washington, DC to work on the budget deal, not joy riding around Asia. The economy is job 1 and once again he showed his lack of concern for the economy. As for Obama’s Asian experience, he was a kid, virtually useless in a world that has changed radically in 20 years. Shooting a few hoops with some Indonesian kids when he was a kid does not make him a world culture expert. A half Asian sister means a total of zip. The power players couldn’t care less about any of it, only the shallow do.
.

Nothing of great importance came out of the ASEAN meeting except a few photo ops. The real action takes place behind closed doors. Xi Jinping is just getting his footing and will not take any major actions for the very near future,
.
First time I had seen Xi Jinping, I thought he looked like a man who enjoyed a Scotch and a good poker game. I would not underestimate this man.
http://twitter.com/heyitsjohnnyc Johnny C

Replying only to your thoughts about Obama’s overseas experience as a child:

As a Third Culture Kid myself growing up and working in five countries, I have to say that even as a child, these international experiences actually do impact your worldview, even when you don’t have the issue of “cultural confusion” that some people think is the defining characteristic of TCKs–not all of us are confused, but most of us are unaligned.

Subtle behaviors and sensitivities never go away regardless–I’m not sure if you would be interested, and I’m not likely to influence/change your opinion, but if you are interested in seeing that the experience as a child does give him the sensitivity most non-traveled people lack, read Ruth Van Reken’s “Third Culture Kids” book. Even an adult living in China teaching English for a year–living abroad for the first time–will have some changes to their outlook and assumptions, even if not outwardly apparent. Body language, more comparisons, and the “base” level they compare to/against changes.

Understandably, most people don’t “get it” but it’s one of those things you only really better understand when you live amongst cultures and have your world view challenged constantly–I’d argue it has a stronger effect as a child because you are less rigid and set in your ways as an adult–adults I’ve seen in Manila, Jakarta, and Bangkok still remain amongst the expat community (many times Americans amongst Americans) as opposed to interactions with locals and other exiles.
LTE2

“I’d argue it has a stronger effect as a child because you are less rigid and set in your ways as an adult”.
.
The Presidency of the United States is internationalist by virtue of how the office is set up. Constitutionally speaking, the President (through the Department Of State) is charged with foreign relations. Every President in a sense is an “internationalist” whether they like it or not, it’s comes with the job
.
Obama’s childhood experience is in a sense meaningless for if he were to sit across a bargaining table from Xi Jinping, what could Obama tell him about being Asian? Jinping might say, so you have a half Asian sister, I have a full Asian sister. Obama spending time in Indonesia may read to Jinping he is pro Muslin and anti- Chinese as the Chinese have not always been the most welcome people in Indonesia. A President that didn’t have extensive experience in Asia might be seen as more neutral.
.
Much goes into the mix of international relations. 2 leaders that develop warm personal relations would over come cultural differences despite childhood experiences. No one on this Earth ever thought Richard Nixon and Chairman Mao would be sitting next to each other having a pleasant conversation.
.
My own experience started with growing up, living in a state 30 miles from a major immigration center. For me, it was highly unusual to talk to a domestic born Chinese or Asian Indian. I would say, I didn’t have to travel the world, the world came to me.
.
How did it affect me? Not by much. In the daily grind of life, life’s basics didn’t change because I met someone from the Chinese interior. For Xi Jinping, when he negotiates a trade deal, it will be all about Dollar and Yuans and not a whole lot more.
ABC expat

if you know anything about Dave’s ESL or the Beijinger or the other expat targeted publications, usually white expats see Asians with a tone of condescension and superiority-inferiority complex.

there’s a reason they call them “sexpats” too in Asia…
ABC expat

do you ever write anything that’s not about you or your hypothetical conjectures online?

are you so familiar with international politicians that the CIA has you on their payroll as an analyst?
Adam L.

I agree that we have bigger problems at home here in the U.S.A…but the problem with being president of the current greatest superpower of the free world…is that it requires being in multiple places at once for damage control. If it wasn’t for Hilary Clinton…President Obama, for example, would have been required to be present right now in the Middle East to manage the current crisis between Israel and Hamas. Being in a close trade pact with Japan…the U.S.A can’t help but be involved on the dispute over the Senkaku Islands as well as the Spratly’s in the South China Sea.

“Obama’s childhood experience is in a sense meaningless for if he were to sit across a bargaining table from Xi Jinping, what could Obama tell him about being Asian?”

I disagree with this. Since Obama went to school in Indonesia for years…there’s plenty Obama can tell Xi Xinping about being Asian. This means the constant rote memorization of lessons…not questioning (“critical thinking”) authority or the knowledge being taught….and special focus over collective cooperation over individuality and creativity. Unfortunately this is something that can only be learned by experienced through real life in person being there.
LTE2

“are you so familiar with international politicians that the CIA has you on their payroll as an analyst?”

.
How do you know I am not CIA? Here’s a tip: Keep your window curtains closed.
http://twitter.com/heyitsjohnnyc Johnny C

Yes I’ve run across them, even when not on Dave’s ESL Cafe looking for resources. In general, my interaction with overseas expats is, if they are on vacation, generally a good idea to stay away–they treat the countries they’re in as dumps before going home. If they are working there (with the exception of most ESL teachers), they are a lot more concerned about the place and the world, as a lot of ESL teachers are pretty much foreign scumbags.
LTE2

“President Obama, for example, would have been required to be present right now in the Middle East”
.
Obama criticized Bush for over throwing Saddam Hussien and then went on to over throw some governments himself. If Barack had to go to the mid-east to make peace, it would be the first time in 4 years he would do any hard work.
.
If I might quote a famous American general, if you break it, you own it.
.
“there’s plenty Obama can tell Xi Xinping about being Asian.”
.
As I stated early, I dealt with (and still deal with with) people from a variety of countries. Even with years of interaction, I would not presume to tell a life long citizen of China about the fine points of Chinese values and cultures.
.
Xi Jinping has a fairly impressive resume. China wisely chose 2 people with extensive education and experience in economic matters. We have a President with an opinion on economic matters. China has 2 leaders that will work to get the Chinese out of poverty, the United States has a President that makes it acceptable.
.
Collective cooperation is killing Japan.
http://twitter.com/heyitsjohnnyc Johnny C

Political leanings, party affiliations, and opinions aside, again, I’m replying only to your comment on the global upbringing and childhood.

There’s a difference between experience in a multicultural society (America, Canada, Australia) and being overseas. Why? Multiculturalism in America and the other countries assumes immigration and integration, particularly in melting pot types (as opposed to “tossed salad” like in the UK and Malaysia). For that reason, I found cities in America that claimed “diversity” like San Francisco and Los Angeles to be unfriendly to TCKs outside of the New York City area because it really meant “different faces, same values/eventual love for Americana” and I just didn’t care much for that world view–too parochial and full of assumptions about the world “coming to them” type of logic which makes people I’ve encountered puzzled by that. The world comes to London too, but Brits as a whole (especially from London) still travel frequently because it’s a different experience when traveling versus being in your home country faced with immigrants (NOT expats).

Though I do agree it’s hard to infer based on what little we think we know about the position and his international experiences, personally, I know what I felt as a child the first times I left a country and never knew where I would be or if I would be “home” for a long time, even as an American. Going back to America was traumatizing the first time as a child, and before going to Asia again, it was this constant question of where home was, then when in Asia, the next question became “What is home?” Obama went through this too as a child, and I can say along with my peers–this feeling NEVER goes away.
LTE2

“For that reason, I found cities in America that claimed “diversity” like San Francisco and Los Angeles to be unfriendly to TCKs outside of the New York City area”
.
Outside of their elites, New Yorkers tend to be more down to Earth where on the west coast, reality is something they try to avoid when ever possible. It was most amusing the Mayor Of San Francisco while promoting diversity told half of America they aren’t welcome there. The irony of a Chinese-American practicing exclusion and the complete inability to appreciate his own contradiction.
.
“I just didn’t care much for that world view–too parochial and full of assumptions about the world “coming to them”
.
Americans have been seen as a bunch of rubes since 1789, so your comment is nothing new. Personally, I am not concerned about what the rest of the world thinks.
.
“From what you say, I’m not sure if you’re qualified to make inferences about international experience just because “the world came to you” in your hometown.”
.
My point was people like Xi Jinping and Barack Obama have to work on a different level than say someone like you. Obama will have to accept Xi Jinping is the chosen leader of China and he has to deal with the man whether he personally likes him or not, Jinping has to accept Obama whether he likes him personally or not.
.
“the next question became “What is home?” Obama went through this too as a child, and I can say along with my peers–this feeling NEVER goes away”

.
The reason many see him as “Un-American”. I think his joy ride to Asia right after the election underscores his flippant attitude about the serious issues America faces. I would have to say since 1898 our most “internationalist” Presidents have caused this country it’s greatest grief.
.
One thing I did like about Obama was the feeling he was going to get us out of the entanglements the United States has gotten itself into since 1898. He just ended 1 and got us into 3 more.
,
As for yourself, I take it you are fairly young and so you will be in a state of flux for sometime. As you get older you will settle down… somewhere.
http://twitter.com/heyitsjohnnyc Johnny C

Ha ha, thank you for sharing and clarifying, I’m a lot older than I look actually, but I have no real desire to settle down either. I know TCKs in their 50s who don’t really have a “home” as a physical place–it’s just where people they call friends happen to be at the time; so everywhere is a “home” so to speak.

Regarding the “un-American” bit, yes, that’s been the big criticism–that Obama is too much of an internationalist rather than one who subscribes to American Exceptionalism. From where and what I have worked in though, these talks are without a doubt signalling to China and other states American intent, but there are links to economics there too. However, where you and I might agree on is that it might not be the type of economics that helps America’s population as a whole. Maybe more to a certain demographic, (no different from the argument people against Romney accuse him of), but there are still ties to the situation domestically.
LTE2

“I’m a lot older than I look actually,”
.
Think I’d be good at diplomacy?
.

“internationalist rather than one who subscribes to American Exceptionalism.”
.
And Americans get to foot the bill for his and his wife’s joyrides. Obama does believe in exceptionalism outside of his own. Actually, his problem is he has no concern about how money is handled, how it is made or how it is spent. He never went out into the greater world to compete, he hid in academia. Rick Santorum, a Republican candidate in the primaries took a certain amusement in pointing out Obama supported blocking the Republican efforts to get the financial roller coaster under control (before it resulted in the crash of 2008). Current Obama Administration policies are actually recreating the same situation now but get little media coverage.
.
If Xi Jinping wanted to get one up on the USA, all he has to do is let Obama continue on.
.
“but there are links to economics there too.”
.
It’s all about economics.
http://twitter.com/heyitsjohnnyc Johnny C

“Think I’d be good at diplomacy?”

If you really are serious about foreign work in some shape or form, send me a private message (my twitter account is linked here) or give me your contact information. I’m currently based in Bangkok, but my reach is quite far throughout the region (and in East Africa too).
LTE2

Thanks for the offer but if I were to go into public life, it would be party politics stateside.
.
I knew an Indian woman who transferred to East Africa (she worked for the UN) in Kenya. I haven’t heard from her since that time, but did read about an outbreak of indigestion with the lions there. I have often wondered…
http://twitter.com/heyitsjohnnyc Johnny C

You don’t necessarily have to “go public” when doing foreign work; I can remain as anonymous as I want to in my NGO and social entrepreneurship endeavours. I’m not sure what she would have been doing in the bush (local slang for wild areas outside the cities), but I doubt she would have been near lions because the UN refugee camps and their agencies in and around metropolitan areas like Nairobi don’t have a lot of lions.
LTE2

“but I doubt she would have been near lions because the UN refugee camps and their agencies in and around metropolitan areas like Nairobi don’t have a lot of lions.”
.
I was just kidding, I did hear from her once after her arrival. She was involved in education issues.
.
If she did come up against a lion, I wouldn’t give the lion more than a 50-50 chance of prevailing.

8 Asians