(MENAFN- The Peninsula) While the United States stews amid Donald Trump’s histrionics and Hillary keeps her Democratic constituency pepped up for the presidential race, President Barack Obama has the eastern flank in thrall. The US president’s East Asia tour is an immensely historic one, coming as it does near the end of his term that ends in 2017.
Obama started his diplomatic tour with Vietnam. American history has been the most controversial in the Communist country with the Vietnam War indelibly tarring Washington’s reputation. Obama kept his promise of lifting the arms embargo on Vietnam. This is likely to bring the erstwhile rivals closer as China throws around its weight in the East and South China Seas.
Human rights are a concern wherever the United States tries to spread its influence. Earlier in his term, Obama’s Asia pivot had seen similar attempts at wooing Asian powers. However, human rights had come in the way.
Washington is always seen pressuring its allies and those it offers a hand of friendship to improve their rights record. It would not be right to say that US uses the condition of human rights in other countries as an instrument of coercion. In fact, the respect for rights is deeply embedded in American political culture. A key term in the Declaration of Independence is Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. This shows the extent of emphasis the country places on freedom — and rights flow from it. In Vietnam, Obama made no secret of his dislike for the rights record of his host country. Yesterday, he chided Vietnam for stopping a number of activists from meeting him. They were bloggers, dissidents and opposition activists. One of them complained of being followed by government agents ahead of the planned meeting.
If it is hard for a democratic society like United States to shun the pursuit of freedom, it is tougher for a Communist nation to give up its authoritarian ways. In spite of a historical move by the US to lift the arms embargo, Vietnam found it hard to oblige Washington when it came to giving dissidents freedom to meet Obama.
Obama’s next stop is going to be Japan where his visit to Hiroshima will be keenly watched. Though Japan has been an unflinching ally, Hiroshima always opens up old wounds. It is being said that Obama, a Nobel Peace Laureate, will not apologise.
The visit to Japan, the host of a Group of Seven (G-7) summit, is likely to score much above the Vietnam trip. Tokyo and Washington should leave behind unpleasant memories like Hiroshima and take their friendship to the next level.