Asia & The 2008 Presidential Campaign

Victor Mallet, Financial Times Asia editor, discusses how the most potentially significant and historically most damaging area of the world for America has played a minor role in the presidential debate so far in American candidates ignore Asia at their peril. There was "populist anti-China rhetoric that marked the early phase of the Democratic contest," and John McCain and Joe Lieberman wrote that the US "had common interests with China that could be the basis of a “strong partnership” on climate change, trade and nuclear proliferation."

In the end of the article Mr. Mallet argues that the candidates should worry about what is best for America and not worry about squeezing out a few more votes:

US presidential hopefuls should openly celebrate the US relationship with Asia, not hide behind a screen of spurious economic nationalism for the sake of a few blue-collar votes. Since the 1970s, Asia and the US have contributed immeasurably to each other’s well-being. Only a foolish president would put that at risk.

Optimistic... Yes... But Barack Obama and John McCain are probably the two candidates most able to do this.