Asia Trip Is Not One to Skip : Attending to domestic policy doesn’t mean negating foreign

Finally, albeit belatedly, President Bush is acknowledging the mounting domestic problems that are sapping the nation of confidence and economic steam. That is a welcome first step toward confronting domestic-policy woes. But in canceling a trip to Asia in order to spend more time at home, the President is making a symbolic political point at the expense of vital foreign-policy interests. He should reconsider.

Smarting from criticism that he spends too much time on foreign policy, Bush abruptly called off the visit, scheduled for later this month, to Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia. The announcement came on the eve of his departure for Rome to attend a NATO conference.

The President said he wants to be in Washington while Congress considers economic legislation, including extending jobless benefits.

That’s a good idea but a flimsy premise for canceling the trip, considering that Congress plans to adjourn by Thanksgiving anyway--the same day Bush was to depart for Asia. Surely he could complete his business with Congress in time to proceed with the trip, which has been planned for almost a year.

The Administration’s preoccupation with other parts of the world has left it little time to address emerging Asia-Pacific issues. A stopover in Japan would have provided a timely opportunity for Bush to meet Tokyo’s newly installed government--including Japan’s new foreign minister, whose insensitive remarks have offended many Americans--and to relieve tensions in U.S.-Japan relations. The trip was timed to precede Bush’s scheduled visit to Honolulu Dec. 7 for the 50-year commemoration of the Pearl Harbor attack.

The cancellation was a surprise to Tokyo officials too. Newly elected Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said that “it’s a shame” that Bush won’t be coming, “but we realize that the decision was made on domestic considerations.” They would like the visit to be rescheduled soon.

Bush understandably is sensitive about being cast as an absentee President. But he can handle important domestic and foreign issues simultaneously. One need not be sacrificed for the other. The President should know that.