President Barack Obama Wednesday cancelled two stops in Asia next week and
President Barack Obama Wednesday cancelled two stops in Asia next week and could also miss a pair of major summits, after a government shutdown dented his policy pivot to the rising region.
An embarrassed Obama postponed visits to the Philippines and Malaysia, Southeast Asian nations at the heart of his effort to rebalance US diplomatic and military weight to the Pacific.
His attendance at the APEC summit in Bali and the East Asia summit in Brunei — where he could meet leaders of major powers like Russia and China, key players on crises and showdowns with Syria, Iran and North Korea, were also in doubt.
Obama had hoped to use the trip to make progress in concluding initial talks on a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.
The White House said the shutdown, triggered by a budget row with Republicans, made it impossible to send logistics teams to Manila and Kuala Lumpur ahead of the president’s massive traveling entourage.
It also admitted that the imbroglio in Washington had dealt a blow to Obama’s goals abroad.
The White House would evaluate whether Obama travels to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)forum in Bali and on to Brunei “based on how events develop throughout the course of the week.”
“For the sake of our national security and economic prosperity, we urge Congress to reopen the government.”
It is highly uncertain that Obama, due to leave for Asia Saturday, would travel if the government remains closed.
He called Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Philippine President Benigno Aquino to tell them he would be unable to visit and promised to reschedule.
Obama had been due to deliver an address in Malaysia on October 11 and to discuss military ties with the Philippines.
Secretary of State John Kerry will take Obama’s place on both stops, the White House said.
It was not the first time that domestic political turmoil forced Obama to cancel Asia trips: he had to reschedule several visits to Indonesia, where he spent four years as a boy, during his first term.
Washington, while insisting it is not trying to encircle China or thwart its rise, has also closed deals to rotate detachments of Marines through Darwin, Australia, is basing ships in Singapore, and may also conclude closer military ties with the Philippines.
So sick of these politicians representing America not getting their act together!
Source Reuters