The current issue of American Interest has a fascinating article lauding China's "smart policy" compared to the United States. The author, dean of the National University of Singapore. Mahbubani's article predominantly deals with China, however I have teased out several indictments on US actions, as interpreted by a foreign observer.
Concerning the policy discourse within the United States, Mahbubani states, "no country can match America's conceptual output in volume. The story is different when it comes to quality, howeverThe typical time horizon in Washington hovers somewhere between the daily spin for the evening talk shows and the next elections cycle. In Beijing the clear focus is on where China wants to be in fifty years in order to avoid a repetition of the two centuries emerging as a modern power."
Mahbubani's right to point that the media's drive for 24 hour news cycles has an infected the public's perspective when considering long-term subjects. However, I doubt policymaker are factoring in the evening talks shows. It is job of the communication officials to maintain talking points, and that should not be confused with political appointee's and cabinet members who largely engage in the policy process.
It is not surprising that a nation on the rise and likely to become a superpower would be more likely to engage in policy discourse in long-term strategic terms. Likewise, the United States is the current superpower and must consider the benefits and costs of their short-term actions as much as their long-term strategic interests.
The Association of Southeast Asian Neighbors (ASEAN), created by the Untied States with the intention to contain the Soviet Union's influence, is now neglected by the U.S. to their detriment, in the eyes of Mahbubani:
"Yet, when ASEAN held a summit to celebrate its fortieth anniversary in November 2007, it was China that sent its Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao, to attend the celebrations. Neither George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, nor Condoleezza Rice turned up. Indeed, two months earlier, Bush had suddenly canceled a U.S.-ASEASN Summit set for September 2007 so that he could make another secret stopover in Baghdad. Similarly, Rice had failed to turn up at the regular ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in 2005 and 2007. (Her predecessor wisely never missed one.)"
The State Department should send high-level representatives in addition to Condoleezza Rice to ASEAN summits. The United States should take advantage of these opportunities to listen to the concerns of Asian nations, as well as explain policy initiatives.
Mahbubani then compares the warm relationship between China and other Asian states to that of the U.S. and its Latin America neighbors. "Today, public opinion surveys show strong anti-Americanism in Latin American states, Brazil and Argentina, have swung leftward and now keep a politically useful distance from the United States." While states in South America may occasionally publicly chide the United States, none would argue the United States does not continue to wield considerable influence in the region. Additionally, the United States is looking to include more Latin American countries in trade agreements.
"New cultural and political perspectives are entering the complex chessboard, most Western commentators expected (with good reason) that the Western powers would continue to be the shrewdest and most adept geopolitical actors. Instead, they have floundered; the Europeans because they are introspective to a fault, and the Americans arguably because they are not introspective enough. Western incompetence has provided significant opportunities that China has been able to exploit without paying any serious political price."
The balancing act of remaining introspective to assess one's capabilities, in order to complement the understanding of one's rival's intentions and capabilities is an issue often raised by Madeline Albright, and interestingly reminiscent of Sun Tzu's words. This is fair criticism. Again, it is likely that China and other significant powers will act in such a manner. While it can be viewed in negative terms, and should be, it also infers that the United States remains the strongest actor, or else the soft-balancing would cease.
Unfortunately, the online edition of American Interest requires a subscription, but I highly recommend purchasing the latest issue. For further information on U.S.-China relations, particularly trade issues, check out our colleague's blog.
