Ms. Condoleezza Rice has just completed her first tour of Asia as U.S. secretary of state. The trip took her to the major capitals of the region -- Delhi, Islamabad, Tokyo, Seoul and Beijing -- as well as to Afghanistan, briefly. At each stop, she confirmed U.S. commitment to the region and pledged to deepen ties with each government she met.
It was an impressive performance, and one that is much appreciated given the value that Asian governments put on face-to-face diplomacy. The trip underscored the challenges the Bush administration faces in its second term, including the most daunting task of all -- dealing with North Korea. On this issue, the signs are worrying.
Ms. Rice began in South Asia, reaffirming U.S. determination to improve relations with India and Pakistan, and highlighting Washington's mutual interests and shared concerns with Delhi and Islamabad. In India, Ms. Rice explained American worries about a proposed pipeline that would bring Iranian energy supplies to the Indian subcontinent -- thus extending Tehran's influence and providing it with much-needed hard currency. In Pakistan, the top U.S. priority is closing down the nuclear black market of Dr. A.Q. Khan. She also found time to stop in Kabul to see firsthand the progress that has been made in Afghanistan since the elections last year.