This is the second trip to Asia for the president in less than a year and represents an unmistakable sign that the US is committed to raising the profile of emerging economies in the east while competing with China for influence in the region.
President Obama landed in Thailand early this morning.
Obama’s itinerary will include a landmark visit to once-isolated Myanmar and an East Asia summit in Cambodia as he seeks to recalibrate U.S. economic and security commitments to counter China’s influence at a time when America is disentangling itself from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But his attention will be divided during his travels as he faces a simmering crisis in the Gaza Strip pitting Israel against Hamas militants, plus economic problems at home.
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Security had been tight at Bangkok’s old Don Muang airport for Obama’s arrival but was far less visible in the historic center of the city at the temple, although roads around the building were closed and tourists were not allowed in.
From there, Obama left for an audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 84, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, who has been in hospital recovering from an illness since September 2009.
The king’s softly spoken words made Obama smile at one point. “Elections in the United States are very long but it’s very gratifying to know people still have confidence in me,” the president responded.
“I thought it was very important that my first trip after the elections was to Thailand, which is such a great ally,” he added.
Obama’s convoy then drove to Government House, where he inspected troops as night fell. He was due to hold talks with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra there and give a joint news conference with her.
The U.S. administration regards Thailand as a key ally for advancing an “Asia pivot” that Obama announced last year with an eye to an increasingly assertive China. Obama, who was born in Hawaii and spent part of his youth in Indonesia, has called himself America’s first “Pacific president”.
His choice of Southeast Asia for his first foreign trip since winning re-election on November 6 is meant to show he intends to make good on his pledge to boost ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, a strategy his aides see as crucial to his presidential legacy.
The US has more to offer the countries of Asia than China as far as defense and freer markets. That may change as China becomes more assertive in its foreign policy and less economically restrictive at home.
But overall, it’s the right call. Southeast Asia is booming and a proactive policy to nurture these economies as well as giving an assist to political change as we have done in Myanmar is the smart play. If Romney had been elected, it is likely he would have continued this policy, while perhaps taking a harder line with China on trade and currency issues. But the die is cast and US policy from now on will recognize the revolutionary changes happening in the Pacific and tailor our foreign policy by placing more emphasis on their development.
Great. First he has made a monumental mess out of the Middle East, so now he goes jetting around Asia on a foreign policy tour? Can’t wait for the results we’ll probably be a war with China, Japan, the Phillipines within the year. This communist clown of a president leaves a wake of chaos and destruction wherever he goes, at home and abroad.
Maybe an ‘off the beaten track’ place to meet his “handlers”?
“I thought it was very important that my first trip after the elections was to Thailand, which is such a great ally,” he added.
“Punches above its weight.”
On a more practical note, the more the United States resembles an authoritarian China or a weak multi-culti Europe, the more those Asian nations will in fact turn to China.
It is the liberty that reassures them, both that we are “controllable”, and that we are reliable. That when push comes to shove, we will shove–and for the right things.
Methinks this “pivot to the Far East” of Obama’s is a temporary evasion of his responsibility to confront the true issues of Benghazi. We’ve been deeply involved in the Far East since World War II…..nothing new of itself there. Let Hillary go to the conferences.
When he returns to Washington, Benghazi will remain fodder for Obama’s Impeachment if we can ever get to the truth of the murder/sodomizing of his Personal Representative, The United States Ambassador to Libya. That should not be allowed to “go away”. Our Media are blurring that major tragedy.
Speaking of Benghazi….we simply must, must, get away from being media-pulled along with that lurid ‘Woman Problem’ of any of our Generals, and also away from the events of those as yet unexplained seven hours when that drone of ours was circling overhead during that murder…….and while no action was forthcoming from our White House.
Obama in the far East right now is simply a Red Herring, a mere diversion.