What did Obama achieve in Asia?
Ties with some allies were reinforced, others withered and new friends were made
In the eight years of the Obama administration, and especially since it launched its “pivot to Asia” in 2011, the United States has consolidated its ties with some traditional allies in the region and seen others weaken. It has also improved its relations with other countries, including former bitter adversaries. In February, Barack Obama also became the first US president to host a meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), at Sunnylands in California.
China
Under Obama, a regular Sino-US communication channel was enhanced in the form of the annual strategic and economic dialogue, which the two countries take turns in hosting. The first was held in Washington in 2009, replacing talks initiated under George W. Bush.
But tension with Beijing continued to bubble in the South China Sea, where Asian countries have overlapping territorial claims. US warships were sent to sail close to reefs in the Spratlys that have been turned into artificial islands by Chinese reclamation.
But Obama also showed cooperation was possible when, on the eve of September’s G20 summit in Hangzhou, he jointly announced with President Xi Jinping that the two governments would ratify the Paris agreement on climate change.
