The APEC summit exposed pitfalls in short-term fixes to Washington's long-term problems with its Asian allies and trade partners, writes Gamal Nkrumah It is invariably clear on foreign trips whether the popularity of an American president abroad is waning or waxing strong. Last weekend, it was abundantly clear that Bush's crown has slipped. In sharp contrast to his vociferous, hot-blooded Latin American hosts a fortnight ago, United States President George W Bush's more tactful Asian hosts were civil and restrained. But there was no mistaking the underlying disapproving reception the American leader received. Bush's trip has not caused a flurry of excitement across Asia. Not all of his Asian hosts enthusiastically embrace his brand of democracy. Indeed, Asia's grand giant, China, makes absolutely no pretence of warming up to America's democratic trappings. There are forces pushing for change in China, and the Bush administration offered up its own rhetoric before the media. But Bush did not have time to make sure his message got across, only able to utter a few conciliatory murmurs. It is not wholly surprising that Bush used his Asian tour to garner support for his self-styled war on terror. Bush's Asian tour was designed to set the seal on a dubious plan intended to drag East Asian political and economic heavyweights into Washington's military adventures. China poured cold water on Bush's overtures and the response of other Asian nations was overwhelmingly lukewarm. In Japan, while the official welcome of Bush was cordial, the public openly expressed harsh criticism of Bush's policy in Iraq. In sharp contrast, Bush was enthusiastically received during his brief stopover in Mongolia. The former Communist nation, which has 120 troops in Iraq, is keen to curry favour with Washington. Indeed, Washington handsomely rewarded the impoverished and cash-strapped Asian state for services rendered in Iraq. The US handed over $11 million in military aid, and the country was one of 16 selected to receive a share of the $1 billion Millennium Challenge Account set aside by Bush to assist poor countries that have embarked on "serious political and economic reform". Mongolia, with a gross domestic product of a mere $1.1 billion, has become a staunch US ally and one of the most successful former Soviet-orbit command economies to radically liberalise and privatise. Bush commended the Mongolian example of free-market deregulation, but he couldn't resist the opportunity to berate communism and Islamist militancy, in the same breath. "Free people did not falter in the Cold War, and free people will not falter in the war on terror," Bush told his Mongolian hosts. "Like the ideology of communism, the ideology of Islamic radicalism is destined to fail," he explained. In Korea, he was more focussed on Korean affairs. "Our two nations seek a Korean Peninsula that is stable, at peace and free of nuclear weapons." But Bush's three-day stay in South Korea was marred by riotous anti-globalisation street protests. Bush was in Korea to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) -- a loose grouping which includes the US, Canada, a number of Central and South American countries with Pacific coastlines such as Mexico and Chile, Russia and a host of East Asia countries. The summit, a sumptuous annual affair, brings together the leaders of some of the most dynamic and fastest growing economies in the world. This year's APEC meeting took place in the Korean port city of Pusan where a host of angry protesters greeted Bush. Even though the event concentrates on economics, politics usually take precedence at APEC summits. This week was supposed to be the moment of decision for the most strategic reform agenda, that concerning North Korea's nuclear programme. At the time of writing, any progress on this issue looks increasingly unlikely. The North Korean nuclear standoff appears set to linger long into the foreseeable future. Also setting the tone of the summit were political issues such as the Chinese military build-up and Japanese unpopularity in East Asia. Some 3,500 government officials and 1,000 businessmen also attended the APEC proceedings. Leaders pledged to revive stalled global trade negotiations in the run-up to the Hong Kong World Trade Organisation meeting in December. During his tour Bush held extensive talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Deals were clinched. China announced that it was buying 70 of Seattle-based Boeing's 737 planes -- part of a broader deal that includes the purchase of 150 737s. China's huge trade surplus with the US is expected to reach $200 billion in 2005. America's trade deficit with China was $162 billion in 2004. At 1.3 billion, the Chinese are a formidable force both within Asia and on the world stage. On political issues, however, tensions arose. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed grave concern about China's human rights record and said that she would speak "vociferously with the Chinese government to both get a clarification and to make clear that we believe open societies allow people to express themselves." Chinese officials gave her the cold shoulder. In China, Bush corroborated Rice's concerns. "We've given China a list of dissidents that we believe are unfairly imprisoned," he told reporters in Beijing. "We encourage China to continue down the road of reform and openness because the freer China is at home, the greater the welcome it will receive abroad," Bush remarked. The Bush administration offered support for Chinese non- governmental and charity organisations, human rights watchdogs, and civil rights groups. And, Beijing is miffed at such blatant interference in its domestic affairs. Taiwan is another bone of contention that has long poisoned Sino-US relations. Again, the Chinese would not budge. Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province. "Modern Taiwan is free and democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society," Bush said. China rejected US attempts at interference and objected to Taiwan's participation in any capacity at any future APEC summit. On Sunday, Bush worshipped at the Gangwashi Church, one of five officially recognised churches in Beijing. The historical church was established by Anglican missionaries in 1021, but was closed down during the Cultural Revolution. "My hope is that the government of China will not fear the Christians who gather to worship openly," Bush told the congregation. "May God bless the Christians of China," Bush said as he signed the Gangwashi Church guestbook. The search for win-win results in Asia was difficult, to say the least. The APEC summit was only partially successful. Grave political differences among leading Asian powers was palpable in Pusan. There was a "harsh exchange", for example, between Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koisumi and South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun, according to the Japanese daily The Asahi Shimbun. "When mapping out the future for East Asia, Japan's inability to engineer better relations with its neighbours China and South Korea will only cast a dark shadow on the road ahead," the newspaper ominously predicted. It also spoke of "more evidence of the deepening chill in Sino-Japanese ties." The presence of Bush, the most powerful man in the world, did little to help.
