The LAT ran a piece on Mongolia’s drive to re-orient its relations in a way to ensure its new-found independence. One of the things Mongolia is doing, apparently, is taking a page right out of Korea’s playbook, which only makes sense when you think about some of the geopolitical similarities between the two:
Another priority is to identify third neighbors. Having recently regained its independence after seven decades in Moscow’s sphere, Mongolia is keen to stay that way. “The third-neighbor policy is an important concept,” said Munkh-Orgil, Mongolia’s foreign minister. “We’re more interested in developing relations with not one, two or three, but as many nations as possible. As a small nation, we want to be sure we have friends around the world.”
In reality, its favorite friend is the United States, analysts say. Although Washington doesn’t provide much aid, it’s seen as the only global power able to counter an invasion, should it come to that.
And the simplest way to get the Bush administration’s attention has been to support its agenda. By some calculations, Mongolia’s 180 or so troops based in Iraq — over the objections of Russia and China — are among the largest per-capita contribution for any ally, a reflection of the country’s small population. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage, who visited Mongolia early this year, credited Ulan Bator with “punching above its weight.”
Unfortunately for the Mongolians, the free trade agreement it has been seeking hasn’t materialized — in one of the finest examples of griping to Washington I have ever seen, PM Elbegdorj grumbled:
“When bad people in bad countries hurt American interests, they’re very eager to help them, such as Afghanistan or Iraq,” Elbegdorj said. “Mongolia and small, [peaceful] countries deserve much more attention than Afghanistan, Iraq and other oil-rich countries.”
That, children, is how you gripe to the United States. Pure solid gold, man. I say give the Mongolians whatever they want — shit, they’ve been out of the whole “mountain of skulls” business since at least the end of Yuan Dynasty, and if their prime minister can pen lines like that, you’d think an FTA wouldn’t be too much to ask.
The U.S. isn’t the only “third nation” Mongolia wants on its side, however:
Mongolia has also welcomed Japan and South Korea, two resource-starved countries and generous aid donors. Billboards around Ulan Bator are filled with ads for South Korean and Japanese companies, and signs on the road to the airport identify buildings funded by Japanese development funds.
One weird thing I noticed in UB, though, is that I saw a number of used Seoul City buses — some with the old hangeul route signs on them — with Japanese ODA (official development assistance) stickers on them. What’s up with that?
Also a great piece is one by Steve Noerper that was sent to me by a very kind reader on Mongolia’s new strategic vision. You’re HIGHLY encouraged to read the essay in its entirety. This is what it says about Mongolia’s contributions to the situation on the Korean Peninsula:
The U.S., ROK, Japan, China, and others have noted Mongolia’s unique positioning toward the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyang and Ulaanbaatar have a longstanding political relationship that has seen recent upgrade, with reestablishment of DPRK representation to Mongolia in 2004. Mongolia has enjoyed vibrant political and economic relations with South Korea and is a key facilitator for North Korean refugees; Mongolia views itself as a potential quiet mediator in and contributor to Korean peninsular affairs. South Korean investment is rising in Mongolia, and North Korea’s deputy foreign minister this summer suggested sending North Korean agricultural labor to Mongolia, a move that would aid inter-Korean cooperation and enhance agricultural sustainability in Mongolia and on the Korean Peninsula.
Like I said, read the rest on your own.
If you have some extra time, I linked to a piece back in April from the Atlantic Monthly on Colonel Tom Wilhelm, “our man in Mongolia,” a true soldier-diplomat in the Great Game tradition. Six-pages long, the story is worth every second of yours to read.
14 Comments
I read the Col. Tom Wilhelm story in my copy of the Atlantic at that time. It was definitely well worth the time.
Mogolia would do more to attract American, South Korean, Japanese attention and invstements if they drop their friendly ties with North Korea, and choose the right side only. Stop sitting on a fence and the first thing they could do is open up their borders to NK refugee camps. This will make the West sit up and take notice and put pressure on China. Then sit back and watch as foreign investment flow into Mongolia.
About the buses: You get that in Vietnam too. When I was sitting outside a university in Saigon (oh for heaven’s sake then, Ho Chi Minh City) a bus rumbled by which, by the route markings all along its side, I could have taken to Incheon apparently.
But then Xi’an had Japanese buses once. The insane thing was the doors were on the wrong side (Japan drives on the left) which means when you got off or on, you had to stand in the middle of traffic. Damn fine buses though. Still had the Japanese advertisements inside and everything.
I don’t think Mongolia can be particularly successful in establishing meaningful trade relations with “far away” nations. The problem is that infrastructure in Mongolia is abysmal (You had a post a few months back about a road in Mongolia Mr. Marmot) and the transportation costs are exceedingly high. Being landlocked is a major geographic disadvantage and it is simply more efficient to do business with your closest neighbors. Imports from China and Russian account for over half of trade to Mongolia by volume and exports from Mongolia to China alone is nearly 50%. As for foreign investment in Mongolia, there is already plenty, it just happens again to be that Mongolia’s primary investors are Chinese. In either case, Mongolia will be facing a very serious problem with the WTO lifts it’s textile quotas against China. You are going to see a total emasculation of the textile industry in most of China’s neighbors Mongolia included, where it constitutes a sizeable percentage of total industry.
Mongolia’s best bet to retain its newfound autonomy is probably to simply play Russia and China off against one another.
China’s goal for Mongolia: slowly eat up all their industries, make them depend on China so much that China doesn’t even have to fire a single shot. Very devious.
Tsk, tsk, Bimbob. You blinked…and the New Evil Empire has moved on.
Mongolia SAR of PRC is already a done deal. A recent Reuters report claims that the mineral wealth of Chinggis-land is being tapped (or will be) to feed the needs of his former subject country.
The Commies are already charging into Argentina (China to invest $19 billion, AP 17/11) and Brazil.
Time to call 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and insist, as a voter, on your right to invoke the Monroe Doctrine and claim SA before it turns red (Commie red,not GOP).
Or wait…has Evil Empire I struck a deal with Evil Empire II: I take ME oil, and you take the pampas?
(The nasty Chinese supremacist throws stale crumbs of stale xiaolongbao at the unrepentant Bimbob, while vacuously studying the nails, painted with Sally Hansen Hard As Nails, on her other hand)
More Yen Jun, eh?
nasty? - uh-huh
Chinese supremacist? - not ironic
wit? - 0
leaves a taste of urine in the mouth? - well, yeah…
–”in one of the finest examples of griping to Washington I have ever seen, PM Elbegdorj grumbled.”– aahh, that man…just shake your head and slap your forehead. there are no words. what is up with all the leaders all over the world becoming dumb and talking out of their asses all at the same time?? btw, furry little thing (mr marmot i mean), could you point me to the source where this brilliant piece of rhetoric was quoted?
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