Sarah Palin's Speech In Hong Kong

The Round-up:

- WSJ - Palin Speaks Out In Asia

- NYT - Palin Speaks To Investors In Hong Kong

- Bloomberg - Palin Attacks Fed On Hong Kong Visit, Wants 'Responsible China'

- Breitbart - Palin Slams Obama's Spending In Debut Speech In Asia

Mary Kissel in yesterday's WSJ Political Diary on the event:

Former GOP Veep candidate Sarah Palin made her first speech abroad at one of Asia's largest annual investment conferences in Hong Kong today. The event was carefully hyped and stage-managed by the hosts, French-owned brokerage house CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, with no press allowed into the venue. Even conference participants had to be "on the list" and show ID to get into the speech. (Local media were so keen to get the story that they staked out the Grand Hyatt hotel, frantically calling anyone in town with Republican Party connections.)

Nonetheless, in good Hong Kong-style, someone managed to sneak a recording device into the room and the transcript leaked.

The 80-minute talk was a broad affair, touching on everything from Alaska and trade protectionism to U.S. relations with China. The former governor took a realist's view of the authoritarian regime, calling for cautious engagement. "We can, must, should work with a 'rising China' to address issues of mutual concern," she said. "But we also need to work with our allies in addressing the uncertainties created by China's rise."

Unlike the Obama Administration, which has pandered to China's unelected leaders, downplayed human rights and snubbed the Dalai Lama, she spoke out strongly in support of China's democrats. Mrs. Palin also took a swipe at the Obama White House's trade policies, noting: "We want an Asia open to our goods and services." She labeled the White House-approved tariffs against Chinese-made tires "a mistake" and called on Congress to get the South Korea free trade agreement passed.

CLSA was thrilled by the speech, which brought the brokerage more press in a day than it's received in a year. In the French spirit of egalite, the closing night's entertainment will be left-wing icon Sheryl Crow.

Yes, I still like Sarah Palin.

If you have tips, questions, comments or suggestions, email me at lybberty@gmail.com.

John McCain Is A Free Trader

Courtesy, Mary Kissel, WSJ Political Diary:

HONG KONG -- One of the two guys now running in the U.S. will be president, so the rest of the world is hungry for signs about what the election means for them. Quietly, the McCain campaign has set out an Asia policy that's worth paying attention to.

In an op-ed piece for The Australian newspaper last week, Mr. McCain put heavy emphasis on building traditional alliances with Asian democracies. The 100-year-old U.S.-Australian alliance "sets the standard," he says. Mr. McCain also laid down a strong call for "American leadership" on trade, noting that free trade agreements with Australia and Singapore "are critical building blocks for an open and inclusive economic order in the Asia-Pacific region." In a statement voters back home might like to hear, he added: "America has never won respect or created jobs by hiding behind protectionist walls and I will continue making the case for free trade, regardless of political expediency."

Right-thinking Australians loved the op-ed. The Lowy Institute's Andrew Shearer lauded Mr. McCain's "deeply personal engagement in the alliance and our shared history," and recalled that Mr. McCain's grandfather and father had served "side by side with the Royal Australian Navy" in the Pacific during World War II.

Mr. McCain is the only presidential candidate so far who has put forth a coherent foreign policy vision for engagement with Asia, one of the world's most volatile regions. His strong endorsement of free trade was especially welcome to Asians who frequently understand better than Americans how much it has contributed to the world's prosperity.

If you have tips, questions, comments or suggestions, email me at lybberty@gmail.com.