This last Autumn while speaking with a  Fijian political science student at Asia Pacific University in Japan, we began talking American elections.

We talked about how if Hillary was elected, it was most safe for the status quo and business as usual.

Trump on the other hand, signaled to the world isolationism and protectionism.

“Do you think it’s so bad,” I asked the young political science student, “if we as Americans got our fingers out of every global pie?” He laughed, “Well, that is sort of how we feel. Especially those of us from under-developed island nations. We feel that America’s involvement in our economy and military does not ever really end up benefiting our islands.”

Ah, now we can talk.

He continued, “Actually, my [Asian] professor talks about how if Trump is elected, and pulls America’s attention and influence out of Asia, that that could actually level the playing field and allow us to prosper, even though that’s not why he is doing it.”

The death of the Trans Pacific Partnership should be a cause of great rejoicing.

For many Americans, it was perceived as us closing our doors to the rest of the world.

However, it inadvertently communicates this message to Asia:

America needs to focus on her own problems right now, you can do business with someone else until further notice. Good luck finding an ethical trading partner in China.

China, however, has already been grooming these relationships and speaking the language of “equality in policy making”, and “trade agreements that are not overbearing”. Basically saying:

When you trade with America, they make you feel like the dogs who can fight for the crumbs under their table. When you trade with us, we are Asians, we have a long history together, and we are brothers. We will take care of one another.

Whether or not that actually materializes in reality, only time will tell.