By Shannon Tiezzi
Obama’s trip to Asia will increase perceptions in Beijing that the U.S. seeks to contain China’s rise.
President Barack Obama leaves today for a tour of Asia, with stops in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The trip is Obama’s first to Asia since 2012 — a planned visit to Southeast Asia in the fall of 2013 was cancelled due to the government shutdown in Washington. While Obama will not be visiting China, the trip could have major implications for U.S.-China relations. As former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in his memoir, “On any trip to Asia, even if China isn’t on the itinerary, it is on the agenda.” Beijing will certainly be watching the tour with great interest, trying to gauge U.S. commitment to and intentions for the Asia-Pacific region.
During U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s recent trip to China, Chinese officials made it abundantly clear that they pay close attention to comments made to other Asian officials. Before arriving in Beijing, Hagel met with ASEAN Defense Ministers in Hawaii and visited Tokyo. In both instances, he emphasized the U.S. commitment to military engagement in the region, and spoke of the need for respecting the status quo when it comes to territorial disputes. These speeches did not sit well in Beijing. General Fan Changlong was unusually blunt in telling Hagel that “the Chinese people, including myself, are dissatisfied with such remarks.”
Still, despite China’s complaints, Obama will doubtless echo Hagel’s comments during his own trip to Asia. Both Japan and the Philippines are embroiled in tense territorial disputes with China, and U.S. officials have already made it a habit to express their displeasure at China’s actions in those regions (though they generally avoid calling China out by name). Look for Obama to repeat such remarks while in Tokyo and Manila, where he will doubtless also reiterate the U.S. defense commitments to its allies. Going beyond the normal rhetoric, Obama is expected to formally sign a deal allowing U.S. troops to share military bases in the Philippines, providing a concrete illustration of the rebalance to Asia. Obama may also use his stop in South Korea to publicly pressure China for more action on the North Korea nuclear issue, which is expected to be a major topic of discussion between Obama and South Korean leaders.
Read the full story at The Diplomat