Hillary Clinton's Op-Ed in Foreign Policy Magazine: America's Pacific Century
The
future of politics will be decided in Asia, not Afghanistan or Iraq,
and the United States will be right at the center of the action.
As
the war in Iraq winds down and America begins to withdraw its forces
from Afghanistan, the United States stands at a pivot point. Over the
last 10 years, we have allocated immense resources to those two
theaters. In the next 10 years, we need to be smart and systematic about
where we invest time and energy, so that we put ourselves in the best
position to sustain our leadership, secure our interests, and advance
our values. One of the most important tasks of American statecraft over
the next decade will therefore be to lock in a substantially increased
investment -- diplomatic, economic, strategic, and otherwise -- in the
Asia-Pacific region.
The Asia-Pacific has become a key driver of
global politics. Stretching from the Indian subcontinent to the western
shores of the Americas, the region spans two oceans -- the Pacific and
the Indian -- that are increasingly linked by shipping and strategy. It
boasts almost half the world's population. It includes many of the key
engines of the global economy, as well as the largest emitters of
greenhouse gases. It is home to several of our key allies and important
emerging powers like China, India, and Indonesia.
At a time when
the region is building a more mature security and economic architecture
to promote stability and prosperity, U.S. commitment there is essential.
It will help build that architecture and pay dividends for continued
American leadership well into this century, just as our post-World War
II commitment to building a comprehensive and lasting transatlantic
network of institutions and relationships has paid off many times over
-- and continues to do so. The time has come for the United States to
make similar investments as a Pacific power, a strategic course set by
President Barack Obama from the outset of his administration and one
that is already yielding benefits.
Read more >>>>
