Considered historically, American East Asia policy may be distinguished by its lack of clear-sightedness. For much of the period the United States has pursued independent national policies toward East Asia--from the Open Door episode through the Vietnam War era--the lack of clear-sightedness has shaped the course of events. The absence of clear-sightedness, the inability to see situations for what they were and to deal with them accordingly, resulted in policies whose wisdom is much disputed. - from the Introduction.