Clinton's difficult and exciting adventure

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By Brendan John Worrell (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-02-16 17:48

Excusing the rhetoric on the US domestic front that was offered up on the Presidential campaign trail, the nous and experience that Hillary Rodham Clinton brings to the table as US Secretary of State is of immense value in these times.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to an audience at the Asia Society in New York February 13, 2009. [Agencies]

When we see her core capacities and match them with the needs on the ground here things look even more promising.

Her past work in intellectual property rights and patent infringement law, the plight of migrant worker's, education reform, children's and women's rights, health provision, the media/internet and violence, and security has relevance and value for China and the Asian region.

At her nomination on December 1 for Secretary of State she mentioned how she was proud to step up "on what will be a difficult and exciting adventure in this new century." And difficult it will no doubt prove to be.

Signaling her entrance into the ring at the Asia Society in New York on Friday she put on her gloves and focused on climate change, security and the global financial crisis, sensitively signaling China as a collaborator beyond just the economic sphere.

Looking at the first, with many regions around the globe now suffering extreme weather conditions, record highs in more than 105 places throughout Japan recorded on the weekend where she now is, and the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen looming in December, she didn't hesitate to mention her own country's past track record in this realm.

As for security, tensions on the Korean peninsula have been looking disturbing most recently with the North deploying more artillery near its sea border with the South and stepping up its drills, according to South Korean media. The former has warned that it is ready to fire rockets with a nuclear warhead, which is enough to threaten Seoul who is now trying to develop a defense control tower by 2012 to detect and shoot down North Korean missiles.

Justifiably she's also expecting more assistance from Beijing on this front and no doubt later regarding possible nuclearization in Iran. Of note she's signaled that mid-level military exchanges will recommence between the US and China later this month and that she's reassured by recent developments in cross-Straits affairs.

As for Japan the current 50,000 US troops stationed there are seeing 8,000 repositioned to Guam - all part of a wider chess play that acknowledges change.

With the first naval visits taking place between China and Japan last year and incremental improvements in this relationship, as with gradual defusing concerning Taiwan, it is hoped that greater trust among neighbors will emerge in North Asia further freeing up the need by the US to station its forces here in the future.

Ideally closer collaboration between the US and China should also not be seen as a threat to Japan who is inextricably linked to China's rise, not just economically. Careful multilateral diplomacy as was evidenced with the trilateral summit between South Korea, Japan and China late last year offers promise in this regard.

As for the global economic crisis Hillary may raise some eyebrows if she seeks to clarify remarks by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in his Senate confirmation hearings when he accused China of "manipulating" its currency. The 'smart power' agenda she's projecting certainly has a lot to live up to. Let's see if she skirts around this issue.

No doubt over the course of her tenure as Secretary of State, there will be times when she causes us to squirm but like the bitter medicine the good doctor prescribed it may be the very thing we all need.

Likewise a tincture of restraint may also afford her more results in Asia when she feels compelled to proffer her remedies - finding that alchemist balance may just be her best achievement to date.

Nevertheless this current direction towards multilateralism appears destined to win back the US some of its international stature as a force for good.

Hillary arrives in Beijing on Friday and will stay until Feb. 22.