As the American presidential election draws closer, both candidates—Barack Obama and Mitt Romney—are well aware that domestic issues would hold the key to determining the poll results. Policies, related to immigration, taxation, military spending and healthcare, are where Obama and Romney and their electoral bases stand polarized at the opposite ends of the division that has shaped American politics over the last century. Foreign policy issues, however, are not to be ignored.

In 2009, Obama not only inherited a crippled economy, but also a precarious geopolitical situation with American armed forces fighting wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. With the end of the eight-year-long occupation of Iraq and preparation to leave Afghanistan by 2014 underway, focus must now shift to East Asia, where the legacy of long fought wars still remains. The region is home to an erstwhile enemy turned ally, Japan, a contemporary rival, China and the Cold War allies—Taiwan, South Korea and the Philippines—as well as a ‘rogue’ nuclear threat, North Korea. Historically, the Asia-Pacific region has featured prominently in the foreign affairs of the US; in the 1980s, US presidential candidates resorted to Japan bashing to counter the economic success of the island nation, amidst fears that it would soon overtake the American economy. China’s rapid economic rise through the 1990s ensured its place as a major foreign policy issue for both the Clinton campaigns. Now the heavy militarization of the region has reinvigorated American foreign policy focus on the region.

On one hand North Korea presents a direct military threat as it continues to flout international norms and regulations on the testing and development of nuclear weapons. China’s rapid military modernisation has led to a spate of maritime disputes over territorial sovereignty. As tensions escalate, the Pentagon acknowledges the significant foreign policy challenge posed by the region to any candidate for the presidency. As Asia-Pacific already accounts for more than 40% of global trade, as well some 60% of total US exports , finding the right balance between military resilience and economic cooperation is essential.

The upcoming elections in Japan and South Korea, the imminent 18th Party Congress in China, as well as the change in leadership that has taken place in North Korea will have far-reaching economic and diplomatic consequences. What must also be factored in is the effect of post-election US policy in influencing the transition of power in this increasingly important geopolitical domain.

• International Affairs
• US Foreign Policy
• The Pacific
• East and Southeast Asia
• USA and Canada

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