06 November 2015

Editorial: US in ‘New Normal’ With Asia Under Obama: Top Diplomat


By Prashanth Parameswaran

The US pivot to Asia is seeing “a substantial return” on investment, Daniel Russel argues.

The Obama administration’s rebalance to the Asia-Pacific continues to produce significant accomplishments for the United States and the region, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia told the Asia Society in a speech yesterday.

Since the administration announced its “pivot” – subsequently termed the “rebalance” – to the region in 2009, the United States has strengthened and modernized its alliances, invested heavily in ASEAN-led regional arrangements, established a constructive relationship with China, and built strong ties with other emerging powers like India and Indonesia, Daniel Russel, the Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said in prepared remarks.

“The result is a ‘new normal’ of relations with the region where big accomplishments have become a regular occurrence,” Russel said.

As evidence of this, Russel pointed to the busy last few months for U.S. Asia policy in 2015. In particular, he noted six key events, both past and future: the conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, whose 12 members account for about 40 percent of global GDP; Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States; the trilateral summit between Japan, South Korea, and China; Myanmar’s upcoming election; Obama’s attendance at Asian summits; and the climate conference in Paris.

“There’s a lot going on in our relations with the Asia-Pacific right now. We’re seeing a substantial return on our investment in the rebalance,” he said.

Read the full story at The Diplomat