Obama Cancels Some Asian Visits While Xi Increases His Presence

The next two weeks will be very busy for our Editorial Team as world leaders converge in Bali and then Brunei for two very important summits. But as the US faces its shutdown crisis, China is using these meetings as a opportunity to improve relations. The US pivot may be slowing, but the Chinese charm offensive is moving into high gear.

To bring our community all the latest we will have dedicated teams to report live from the events. So stick here for smart news and analysis.

Right now this is what you need to know.

Yesterday President Barack Obama cancelled two Asia stops next week and the White House hinted that he could also miss a pair of summits, after a government shutdown inflicted a new dent in his policy pivot to the Pacific.

An embarrassed Obama postponed visits to the Philippines and Malaysia, two Southeast Asian nations that are at the heart of his effort to rebalance US diplomatic and military weight towards the rising region.

His attendance at the APEC summit in Bali and the East Asia summit in Brunei — where he could meet leaders of powers like Russia and China, key players on crises and showdowns with Syria, Iran and North Korea – is now also in doubt.

Meanwhile, China’s President Xi Jingping used a trip to Indonesia prior to the APEC Summit to stress China’s desire for better relations in the region.  In the first ever speech by a foreign leader to the Indonesian parliament, Xi addressed maritime disputes which have caused issues over South China Sea

“Southeast Asia is one important hub of the maritime Silk Road. China is ready to increase maritime cooperation with ASEAN,” he said.

“China attaches great importance to Indonesia’s role in ASEAN and is ready to work together with Indonesia and other ASEAN countries to make the two sides share the same prosperity.”

So as the US stumbles China looks very well balanced in Asia.

Stay tuned we will have more analysis and insight to come.