THE NEW, OLD FACE OF ASIA

"Bush will arrive in an Asia where North Korea has (somewhat) successfully tested a nuclear device, where Japan is openly discussing the merits of discussing the merits of a nuclear weapons program, South Korea seems to be coming into closer alignment with North Korea than with the United States, and China reportedly is shadowing U.S. carrier battle groups and planning to buy advanced carrier-based aircraft from Russia.

With its resources and priorities squarely centered on Iraq, the United States has paid scant attention to East Asia -- despite its involvement in six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program and trade negotiations with Vietnam, South Korea and China. Asia, as a result, has been left to develop in its own natural direction, without U.S. 'interference' and with emphasis more on regional concerns than global ones. The Cold War paradigm of global blocs has been swept away, and the post-Cold War sense of supreme and unchallengeable U.S. global hegemony has been shattered.

In other words, the 'old' shape of Asia is re-emerging. And when Washington once again has the need and ability to focus its attention there, U.S. leaders may find themselves on unfamiliar ground."

-- Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report ("Strategic Forecasting, Inc.)

Read the complete article here.