Regional Overview: US Asia Policy, Symbolically Speaking by Ralph A. Cossa and Brad Glosserman

 

Once every four years, we try to reassure our readers that US Asia policy will remain generally consistent. This year we are trying to reassure ourselves. It is premature to be making firm pronouncements about an incoming administration’s policies, but eight years ago it seemed safe to assume that the incoming Obama administration would pursue the same policies and national security objectives in the Asia-Pacific as its predecessor: support for existing alliances as the foundation, constructive engagement with China, support for free trade, promotion of human rights, and a strong deterrence posture toward North Korea. This could yet be the case for the incoming Trump administration, but the signals are, at best, mixed, in part because we find ourselves responding to tweets – which transition team spokesmen caution should be taken “symbolically” not literally – rather than clear policy pronouncements. As a result, regional leaders, while hoping for the best (or at least more of the same) seem to be preparing themselves for a variety of outcomes, even as some try to shape the future environment.

 

US-Japan Relations: US-Japan Relations and the Trump Effect by Sheila Smith and Charles McClean

 

The US presidential election was the primary influence affecting US-Japan relations in the fall of 2016. Japan was brought into the spotlight during the campaign with Donald Trump repeatedly criticizing Tokyo for unfair trade practices and free-riding in the alliance. The outcome of the election left many Japanese worried about the future of the alliance. Prime Minister Abe quickly reached out to President-elect Trump, arranging a meeting with him in New York on Nov. 18. Beyond the US election, the LDP and Abe also sought to support the Obama administration by ratifying the Trans-Pacific Partnership and promoting maritime capacity building in Southeast Asia.  President Obama and Prime Minister Abe met for the last time in Hawaii on Dec. 27. Uncertainty abounds, but the biggest unknown for the relationship will be the new US president and his approach to Asia.

 

US-China Relations: China Prepares for Rocky Relations in 2017 by Bonnie Glaser and Alexandra Viers

 

Summits between Barack Obama and Xi Jinping in September and November helped to keep tensions in check in the last four months of 2016. Despite persisting differences over how much pressure to put on North Korea after it conducted its fifth nuclear test, the US and China agreed on a new UN Security Council sanctions resolution. The US Navy conducted another freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) in the South China Sea. A Chinese Navy vessel snatched a US drone, claiming it was threatening the safety of the Chinese ship and its crew, and returned it to the US five days later. Incremental progress was made on trade disputes at the 27^th annual US-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT). Meanwhile, the election of Donald Trump as the next US president threatened to inject significant uncertainty into US-China relations as Trump received a phone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and suggested that he might use Taiwan as a bargaining chip to extract concessions from China on other issues.

 

US-Korea Relations: Unrest and Tests by Stephen Noerper

 

North Korea opened the final months of 2016 by conducting its fifth nuclear test. It followed up with a series of rocket and missile tests, culminating the year with Kim Jong Un’s claim of an imminent long-range missile capability. Yet, political transition in South Korea and the US proved the hallmark, suggesting potential shifts in the approaches on the Peninsula, while underscoring the firm commitment of the US and ROK to their alliance. The Park-Choi scandal led to massive protests over the final two months and an impeachment vote by the National Assembly on Dec. 9, confusing political observers about the implications for South Korean political stability. Donald Trump’s surprise victory in the US raised questions among Koreans about US reliability as an alliance partner.

 

US-Southeast Asia Relations: Philippine Follies by Sheldon Simon and Carl Baker

 

The bizarre behavior of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte dominated the news in late 2016. The former Davao mayor displayed his anti-US feelings while aggressively pursuing his campaign against drug trafficking. Duterte’s invective ran the gamut from accusations that the US still treated the Philippines as a colony to a vulgar epithet directed at President Obama. There were also threats to end all bilateral military exercises and to terminate bilateral defense agreements. Philippine officials tried to soften Duterte’s remarks and US officials offered reassurances that the US would remain a reliable defense partner and planned to continue providing military assistance.  Elsewhere, the US continued to focus attention on maritime security while avoiding direct involvement in the emerging controversy over treatment of the Muslim population in Rakine State, Myanmar.

 

China-Southeast Asia Relations: Beijing Presses Its Advantages by Robert Sutter and Chin-Hao Huang

 

Chinese leaders steered relations in Southeast Asia to their advantage after successfully countering the adverse ruling of the arbitral tribunal in The Hague. The remarkable turnabout in the Philippines, from primary claimant to pliant partner, and restraint on the South China Sea disputes by other claimants and concerned powers allowed Beijing to seek greater regional influence. Beijing made major advances with visits by the Philippine president and Malaysian prime minister, Premier Li Keqiang’s participation at ASEAN-related meetings in September, and President Xi Jinping’s participation at the APEC Leaders Meeting in November. China adopted a stronger regional leadership role as the US failed to implement important initiatives, especially the TPP. The main uncertainty in China’s positive outlook was a less predictable and less reticent US approach to differences with China following the election of Donald Trump.

 

China-Taiwan Relations: Adjusting to New Realities by David G. Brown and Kevin Scott

 

After President Tsai’s inauguration, Beijing continued to press her to accept the 1992 Consensus on one China. When China blocked the ICAO from inviting Taipei in September, Tsai reacted sharply. In her “Double Ten” remarks, she reaffirmed her cross-strait policy and said she would neither give in to pressure nor return to past confrontational actions. In October, Xi Jinping made remarks implying Beijing’s understanding that Tsai would not endorse one China. The election of Donald Trump created in Taipei both hope of friendship and concern Taipei could become a pawn in Trump’s bargaining with China. Trump’s tweets about his telephone conversation with Tsai and comments about one China and trade have sparked intense speculation and uncertainty about their implications for cross-strait relations.

 

North Korea-South Korea Relations: Back to Diplomacy in 2017? by Aidan Foster-Carter

 

South Korea’s hardline response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests earlier in the year, which led to a complete severing of all inter-Korean contact, meant there was effectively no relationship between the two Koreas in final months of 2016. With the stalemate in relations coupled with the political turmoil in both Washington and Seoul, Aidan Foster-Carter provides his analysis to help  understand how we got here by looking back and, even more importantly, looking forward. While North Korea watches and waits, there is a worrying power vacuum in Seoul in the wake of “ChoiSunsil-gate.” The next move largely depends on how South Korea responds to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

 

China-Korea Relations: Nuclear Test, Political Fallout, Domestic Turmoil by Scott Snyder and See-won Byun

 

North Korea’s fifth nuclear test in September and the intensified test-firing of a range of missile types throughout 2016 underscored existing weaknesses in using dialogue and sanctions as a response. The timing of Pyongyang’s latest provocations coincided with the G20 Summit in Hangzhou and ASEAN-related meetings in Vientiane. President Park Geun-hye used the venues for sideline talks with President Xi Jinping and President Obama. The nuclear test directly challenged a nonproliferation statement adopted by East Asia Summit (EAS) members on Oct. 8, which urged North Korea to abandon its weapons programs.  Following extended negotiations, China agreed to adopt UN Security Council Resolution 2321 on Nov. 30. In addition to strains in the China-DPRK relationship, regional coordination on North Korea remains challenged by disputes between China and the ROK over THAAD and illegal Chinese fishing. 

 

Japan-China Relations: Abe-Xi Met; Diplomats Talked; Wait ‘Til Next Year… by James Przystup

 

Prime Minister Abe and President Xi met twice in the last four months of 2016.  Both committed to advancing the relationship during 2017, taking advantage of the opportunities presented by historic anniversaries – the 45th anniversary of normalization and the 40^th anniversary of the Japan-China Friendship Treaty. They also committed to early implementation of an air and maritime communications mechanism in the East China Sea. At the end of the year, the Abe government announced a record high defense budget for 2017; days later the China’s aircraft carrier transited in international waters near Okinawa into the western Pacific.  Meanwhile public opinion polling revealed growing pessimism in Japan about China and Japan-China relations.

 

Japan-Korea Relations: What Goes Up, Must Come Down by David Kang and Jiun Bang

 

Going into the final months of 2016, Seoul-Tokyo relations had been on a positive trajectory, creating that ill feeling that it was time for things to go awry. After witnessing palpable results with the signing of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and solidarity against North Korea’s provocations, the political chaos in South Korea that climaxed with the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye put the brakes on further developments. The scandals surrounding the abuse of power involving a shadowy confidante made it difficult to shake off the feeling that the administration’s deals with Japan have become tainted. Now, South Korean presidential hopefuls are tapping into public discontent to undermine the “comfort women” deal reached in December 2015, and there is high skepticism in the media over the implementation of the GSOMIA.

 

China-Russia Relations: The Dawn of a Brave Trump World by Yu Bin

 

The end of 2016 was a period of extraordinary uncertainty in world affairs. Much of the world was engulfed by waves of refugees, terror attacks, and rising populism, culminating in the election of Donald Trump as president in the US. Against this backdrop, top Chinese and Russian leaders interfaced regularly. Military ties gained momentum as the two armed forces conducted a joint exercise in the South China Sea and stepped up coordination in missile defense. Twenty years after their “strategic partnership of coordination,” the two countries still resist a formal alliance, but the perceived challenge to their national interests and strategic space by Western alliances seems to have led to more proactive and coordinated actions. Meanwhile, both Moscow and Beijing were anxiously awaiting the Trump presidency. Welcome to the brave new world of the reversed strategic triangle, Trump style.

 

India-East Asia Relations: Robust but not Riveting by Satu Limaye

 

India deployed its prime minister, president, and vice president as well as key Cabinet officials across East Asia and the Pacific in 2016 in support of its “Act East Policy.” Since 2015 was the first full year of India “acting east” under the Modi administration, 2016 was not expected to be a defining year in India-East Asia relations and it was not; rather, India’s engagement was robust but not riveting. After years of negotiating, a nuclear deal between India and Japan was one major development. More troubling, trade and investment ties were muted due to international as well as specific bilateral factors. Meanwhile, India continues to participate in negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement. India-China relations were noticeably cool and contentious. Still, India pursued broad and innovative outreach initiatives despite more pressing priorities, limited leverage, and East Asia’s own flux, contestations, and uncertainties. An example of innovation was President Mukherjee’s first-ever state visit to Papua New Guinea. He also made the first Indian presidential visit to China since 2000.  Meanwhile, Vice President Ansari made a first-ever vice presidential visit to Brunei and to Thailand after a 50-year gap. So, India “acted east” as Modi promised soon after taking office in 2014, but it was hardly a bravura performance.