Barack Obama Suntory Hall speech: Tokyo Japan

November 14, 1:19 AMMichelle Obama ExaminerClifford Bryan

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U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a speech at a hall in Tokyo Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009.
(AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

On Saturday in Japan  President  Barack Obama gave a speech on the future of U.S. leadership in the Asia Pacific region at Suntory Hall in Tokyo Japan. In his speech Obama mentioned the Emperor and Empress and the 20th anniversary of Akihito's accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne. 

All you need to do is look at the White House's recent talks with Japan to know that this country is high on the list in terms of importance. Japan is the first leg on Obama's Asian tour, the first foreign leader that he welcomed to the White House was the prime minister of Japan, and for the first time in nearly fifty years, the first foreign trip by an American secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, was to Asia, starting in Japan.

Barack Obama said,

"My own life is a part of that story. I am an American President who was born in Hawaii and lived in Indonesia as a boy. My sister Maya was born in Jakarta, and later married a Chinese-Canadian. My mother spent nearly a decade working in the villages of Southeast Asia, helping women buy a sewing machine or an education that might give them a foothold in the world economy. So the Pacific rim has helped shape my view of the world."

Japan has one of the largest economies in the world and the U.S. will need the Asian nation to make in roads and build coalitions through out Asia. The President mentioned that the fact that China is growing and becoming a super power should not make Japan feel threatened from a security stand point or economically. 

Barack Obama mentioned that any country in Asia becoming stronger  does not mean another must become weaker. The President said it is not a zero sum game anymore,  Much of this part of his speech was centered on China, it is clear the President wanted to give Japan reassurance that the U.S. plan for dealing with China is a sound and effective one.

Barack Obama said, 

"We look to emerging nations that are poised to play a larger role – both in the Asia Pacific region and the wider world. Places like Indonesia and Malaysia that have adopted democracy, developed their economies, and tapped the great potential of their own people.

We look to rising powers with the view that in the 21st century, the national security and economic growth of one country need not come at the expense of another. I know there are many who question how the United States perceives China’s emergence. But as I have said – in an inter-connected world, power does not need to be a zero-sum game, and nations need not fear the success of another. Cultivating spheres of cooperation – not competing spheres of influence – will lead to progress in the Asia Pacific.

As with any nation, America will approach China with a focus on our interests. And it is precisely for this reason that it is important to pursue pragmatic cooperation with China on issues of mutual concern – because no one nation can meet the challenges of the 21st century alone, and the United States and China will both be better off when we are able to meet them together."

In no uncertain terms it appears by Obama's statements that the U.S. is looking for the stronger nations in Asia to take a more active role in global stabilization efforts and to lend a hand to western powers that have been weakened financially by the global financial crisis, based on statements the two countries have made  it appears that Japan and China have made good faith efforts to do just that, but we have a long way to go to see if they continue that support.

Barack Obama has a lot of things going for him in regards to  Asia and that will go a long way to get much of the rhetoric and ideas being shaped at the White house for how they deal with Asia in the 21st century off the drawing board and put into play.

Barack Obama made frequent reference to the United States as an Asia-Pacific nation, the U.S. is also a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Based on the warm reception and his high level of respect through out Asia I would not be surprised if Barack Obama and Asia will continue their love affair long after he is done being President of the United States.