Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Obama looks to salvage Asia 'pivot' as allies fret about China
Reuters ^ | April 16, 2014 | BY MATT SPETALNICK AND MANUEL MOGATO

Posted on 04/16/2014 4:17:57 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

When a Philippine government ship evaded a Chinese blockade in disputed waters of the South China Sea last month, a U.S. Navy plane swooped in to witness the dramatic encounter.

The flyover was a vivid illustration of the expanding significance of one of Asia's most strategic regions and underscored a message that senior U.S. officials say President Barack Obama will make in Asia next week: The "pivot" of U.S. military and diplomatic assets toward the Asia-Pacific region is real.

Washington's Asian allies, however, appear unconvinced.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Japan; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: failure; obamaasiatrip; obamaforeignpolicy

1 posted on 04/16/2014 4:17:57 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
This White House has proved it can't walk and chew gum at the same time. Coordinated, simultaneous pressure from Russia and China is more than Obama can deal with.
2 posted on 04/16/2014 4:22:23 PM PDT by Brad from Tennessee (A politician can't give you anything he hasn't first stolen from you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brad from Tennessee
Coordinated, simultaneous pressure from Russia and China is more than Obama can deal with.

Pepperoni or sausage? is more than Obama can deal with.

3 posted on 04/16/2014 4:26:36 PM PDT by KarlInOhio (Republican amnesty supporters don't care whether their own homes are called mansions or haciendas.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: KarlInOhio
Pepperoni or sausage? is more than Obama can deal with.

The presidunce is a sausage monger.

4 posted on 04/16/2014 4:30:46 PM PDT by Sirius Lee (All that is required for evil to advance is for government to do "something")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Oldeconomybuyer
Manila's acceptance of a beefed-up U.S. military presence, a politically sensitive issue in the independent-minded archipelago nation, would reveal the scale of Philippine anxiety over China. The Philippine Senate voted to evict the U.S. military from their bases in 1991, ending 94 years of American military presence in the Philippines, and has only gradually allowed the return of U.S. forces for limited operations during the past decade.

We're also kinda sensitive about putting our boys in harm's way for somebody else's territory. If they dislike us that much, maybe they shouldn't ask us to help them ward off the Chinese.

That Obama is making our "allies" anxious is a good thing. They should be anxious. There's an 800 lb gorilla called China on their doorstep. They should be spending much more on defense to deal with expansive Chinese territorial ambitions. Their policy now is to fight China to the last dead GI. If they think Uncle Sam might not adhere to their script, they might end up increasing their defense spending. And that would be good for American interests.

5 posted on 04/16/2014 5:41:02 PM PDT by Zhang Fei (Let us pray that peace be now restored to the world and that God will preserve it always.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson