U.S. prominence in Asia since World War II has rested on a widespread belief among friends, foes and nonaligned nations alike that Washington would use its economic and military power to prevent what it saw as dangerous challenges to the region's peace, stability and growth.
This conviction was eroded in recent years as various U.S. administrations pursued different, and often confusing, approaches to Asia. While America bounced back from defeat in the Vietnam War, its current performance in Iraq and Afghanistan shows a lack of staying power.
The author goes on to praise China's economic performance in contrast to Japan and America as another reason, along with Chinese increases in military power. Certainly people in Asia will look to China a bit more as their relative power increases, but so far there appears to be more fear than admiration.
What I really object to is the idea that our performance in Iraq and Afghanistan has undermined our reputation.
Really? Countries worried about our power compared to China think less of us because we are still fighting in Afghanistan a decade after 9/11? That shows us to be a poor partner how?
And we've defeated our enemies in Iraq one after the other despite the cost and casualties and in spite of strong domestic opposition that developed? That hurts our reputation how?
If our reputation now is in trouble, it isn't because of past performance. Maybe some are worried that our leadership won't use our power to help our allies in the face of Chinese pressure. But that's a different problem altogether.
