Self-awareness often eludes U.S. officials who push American interests on Asia. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Vietnam was a case in point as the secretary of state implored the government to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
In his pitch earlier last week, Kerry said the U.S.-led trade deal would bring "transparency" and "accountability" to the communist nation, helping it become a more open society that supports free expression. An odd thought, considering the Big Brother-like secrecy enshrouding the treaty on the U.S. side.
The pro-TPP argument goes as follows: This is the moment Asia's reformers have been waiting for. It's a chance for Japan to take on vested interests, Malaysia to kill growth-stifling affirmative-action policies, Vietnam to rein in bloated state-owned enterprises and Singapore to spur innovation. Think of TPP as an economic Trojan horse — a means of shaking up stagnant political systems by stealth.