Test of Friendship

Bangkok Post

07 November 2016

Millions of Asians will be glued to their screens, big and small, on Wednesday morning as the results of the US presidential election stream in. Much will be riding on the outcome when it comes to relations between the United States and Asia. The question is whether a new administration will pursue a path toward mutual prosperity and security or take a detour into muddy waters amid growing mistrust.

The contrasts between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump are clear in many voters’ minds. One is a former secretary of state whose qualifications for office are beyond dispute. However, her perceived cosiness with Wall Street and controversy surrounding her use of a private email server for official communications continue to haunt her campaign in its final days.

The other is a wealthy property tycoon and former reality television show host with a flamboyant hairdo. Add a history of bankruptcies and dubious tax filings, together with lewd remarks about women and insults directed at immigrants, and that is basically what Donald Trump is known for.

… These include slapping tariffs on Asian exports and sending Asian foreign workers home, said Kaewkamol Pitakdumrongkit, a Singapore-based assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ Centre for Multilateralism Studies.

“These measures would lead to a reduction in Asian nations’ GDP (due to tariffs) as they are export-oriented, and could make it difficult for Asian foreign workers to renew their US work visas which in turn hurts remittances back to their home countries,” said Dr Kaewkamol.

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