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lhe newly independent mJntSlate a
severe blow. But since lhen lhe
hardworking Singaporeans have ag–
gressively auracted industrial con–
ceros from around tbe world lo sel
up manufacturing branches on lhe
island. After industry carne banking.
Over
70
percent of Singapore's
banking is now handled by foreign
banks loca ted in a new " Wa l l
Strcct" district, doing business in
the booming "Asia dollar" market.
Singapore, too, has played a lead–
ing role in the affairs of ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asían Na–
tions) , which is slowly but steadily
elevating the economic fortunes of
not on ly Singapore, but Thailand,
Ma laysia, Indonesia and the Philip–
pines.
Free of Fear
All of this hard-won prosperity,
gained by countries poor in natural
resources but rich in the human va–
riety, could nevertheless quickly dis–
sipale. This is simply because it is
lhe American political and military
commitmenl to the free Asían na–
tions- now in doubt more than ever
before- tha t has enabled them to
develop thei r econonúc st ructurcs
free of undue fear oftheir enemies.
For example, the Japanese mir–
acle has been insured all along by
the American nuclear umbrella.
With the U.S.-prescribed no-war
clau e in its constitution, Japan has
been free 10 direct the endless
energies of its well -educated, dis–
ciplined work force toward eco–
nomic development, devoting bul a
small fraction of its na tional budget
to military defense. As a result, the
Japanese have built the free world's
second-largest economy.
During the Korean War. more–
over, while Korea was being deva -
taled. the Japanese were pul on
lheir postwar economic feel by
provisioning the U.S. war efforl
across lhe Sea of Japan. Older Ko–
reans, we found. have never forgol–
ten lhal J apan, harsh overlords in
Korea from
1910
10
1945,
aclua lly
profi1ed al Korea's expense. In
marked contrast lo J apan. Soulh
Korea 1oday has to devole 35 per–
cent of i1s national budget to de–
fense. Yet the hardworking Koreans
are still determined to surpa s .the
Japane e economically.
The
PLAIN TRUTH October-November 1977
Despi te their resentmenl of Japan's
success and knowledge thal the
United States is in no small way
responsible for it, many Koreans we
talked to realize that their own eco–
nomic recovery would have been
impossible were Íl not for 1he Amer–
ican commitment to their security.
Taiwan Sheltered Too
On Taiwa n th e feeling is much
the same. Without the
1954
treaty
guaranteeing Washinglon's ironclad
commitment to defend Taiwan
against its Communist enemy on the
mainland. Taiwan could nol have
made such gigantic economic
Slrides-would nol have been able to
"turn hell into heaven," as one
Taiwanese scholar told us-and
would not be able lo hold high the
torch of a new " model China" for
Chinese across the Formosa Strait
lo see.
Throughout lhe remaining free
nations of Soulheasl Asia it
is
recog–
nized. but not always publicly em–
phasized. that it is 1he still
formidable American military pres–
ence in the region, specifically in the
huge naval anda ir bases in 1he Phil–
ippines, that holds Vietnam, the big
Communist predator in the area, at
bay. Even the Chinese, ever wary of
growing Soviet naval mighl, have
passed word to the Philippines lhal
lhey wish to see the Americans re–
inain.
Thus it is the continued American
military presence throughout Asia
lhal has. at least until now. pre–
served the political/ideological
status quo and made possible the
~
dramatic economic and social ad-
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vancement in country after country.
Y
But winds of change are blowing
~
out of Washington 1hat could upset
~
everything and ultimately result in
~
great physical desl ruction and the
loss of millions of lives.
Lack of Understanding
First of a ll , the Carter Administra–
tion's emphasis on human rights. we
found, has upset many of America's
friends and allies in Asia. They feel
that the new (and often younger
and somewhat idealistic) men in lhe
U.S. Slate Depanment (as well as in
Congress) do nol understand the
complex and often dangerous si tu–
a tions their na 1ions a re forced to
Ji
ve with day after day.
In South Ko rea. for example. a
leading business executive told us
that "you [Americans] have no
Communist enemy facing you
across the border. say. in Canada."
Another drew the analogy of his di–
vided country to a Communist
power occupying half the United
States up to the Mississippi River–
then asked whether, under such
conditions. the remaining half of the
Vnited States cou ld enjoy the same
full range of civi l liberties it does
today. Or wouldn't, this official
asked. the U.S. also. as South Korea
must. be forced to Limit certain po–
litical activities for the sake of na–
tional security?
1
n the Phi lippines. a leading jour–
nalist we met was angered over
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