‘Asia-Pacific Leaders Seek Obama’s Reassurance After Trump Win ‘
‘TPP’ nations highlighted
US President Obama is hoping to keep Asian nations under USA influence, but that now seems to be a bit more difficult:
Asia-Pacific Leaders Seek Obama’s Reassurance After Trump Win
November 19, 2016
LIMA, PERU —President Barack Obama is on the final leg of his final foreign trip, to Lima, Peru’s capital, where he will seek to reassure U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region following the election of Donald Trump.
Obama had made a focus on Asia and the Pacific — called a pivot, or an “Asia Rebalance” — the cornerstone of his foreign policy, but that could change substantially after he leaves office in nine weeks.
The president and his free-trade allies have pushed hard for years to put the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, or TPP, into action. But on the campaign trail, the Republican nominee and now president-elect has proposed a sharply divergent course. Trump suggested he would disengage from Asia, was highly critical of some U.S. allies and called the TPP a “rape” of American interests. …
Will campaign vows become reality?
Asia expert Michael Kugelman of the Woodrow Wilson Center told VOA the world is now waiting to see to what extent Trump will translate his campaign promises into foreign-policy decisions.
“He certainly scared quite a few key capitals in Asia when he suggested that U.S. alliance partners aren’t doing enough to hold up their end of the bargain to maintain long-standing defense partnerships with Washington,” Kugelman said. “And yet, do we really think that Trump would try to scale back critical relationships with Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea? To me, it seems hard to believe.”
Kugelman said Asia-Pacific leaders are anxious about what impact Trump’s election might have on U.S. leadership in the region. He said there is only so much Obama can say or do to reassure them. In fact, Obama has had to concede that Congress will not take up the TPP trade agreement now that Trump has been elected.
Japan’s Abe: ‘Trump is trustworthy’
“I think the best advice he can offer to U.S. allies in Asia is for them to reach out to Trump as soon as possible and make a direct pitch for continued engagement,” he said. “We’ve already seen Japan’s prime minister do this, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meeting with Trump to impress upon him the continued importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance.”
Abe met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York Thursday, saying afterward he is a “trustworthy leader.”
Trump posted on his Facebook page, “It was a pleasure to have Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stop by my home and begin a great friendship.”
Trade experts are watching to see if China will seek to position itself as the new world leader on free trade at the Asia Pacific Economic Summit in Lima.
Some analysts say talks are underway for a new Asia-Pacific trade group that would exclude the U.S. but include China and possibly Russia. http://www.voanews.com/a/asia-pacific-leader-seek-obama-reassurance/3603507.html
Trade is a major concern for most of the countries in Asia. But before going further, notice that Russia was mentioned above. Russia has been putting together its own trade block, called the Eurasian Econimic Union and it wants others in Asia to join it. More might be thinking about that now (see also Eurasian Economic Union makes a deal with Vietnam–a step towards prosperity or Armageddon?).
The election of Donald Trump and the likely dismantling of the TPP agreement has many concerned in Asia. Even before he was a candidate, Trump was on record as opposing the TPP. As early as April 2015, he predicted it would hurt U.S. businesses and put people out of work.
China was never part of TPP–and some believe that was because the USA wanted to blunt China’s influence in Asia.
The Chinese themselves are also concerned about Donald Trump and issued a warning to him today:
November 19, 2016
Chinese state media warned U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday against flip-flopping on trade deals in Asia, as Asia-Pacific leaders gathered for a summit amid fears that growing protectionism will stunt global economic growth.
During the raucous election campaign, Trump fuelled concerns among many of the United States’ trading partners by pledging to renegotiate trade accords such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and impose tariffs on imports from countries such as China.
“Turning his trade-bashing campaign talks into actual policies could bash any hope that the Asia-Pacific will finally have its much-wanted free trade deal,” said a commentary in the official Xinhua news agency on Saturday.
“Worse, it could drag his country and the wider world into deeper economic distress,” added the agency, which is a barometer of government thinking.
Xinhua also said that the exclusion of China from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement was not about boosting trade and instead was U.S. President Barack Obama’s strategy to make sure Washington “rules supreme in the region.”
Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Pacific Rim leaders are meeting at the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Peru this weekend.
Though Obama championed the TPP as a way to counter China’s rise, his administration has now stopped trying to win congressional approval for the deal that was signed by 12 economies in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, but excluded China. Without U.S. approval the agreement as currently negotiated cannot come to fruition.
China’s Xi is selling an alternate vision for regional trade by promoting the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which as it stands excludes the Americas. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-usa-trump-trade-idUSKBN13E0AJ?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews
Many in Asia are concerned about China’s rising economic and military presence. The election of Donald Trump is increasing pressure on the Chinese to perhaps make better trade deals in Asia. And the likely scrapping of TPP would indicate that many nations in the Asia-Pacific region will decide then that they do need to make better deals with China.
Notice also the following:
November 18, 2016
US officials have warned for months that the failure of the TPP would open the door to China to promote its own trade agreements, and that’s exactly what happened today when at the meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member states in Lima, Peru, Chinese President Xi Jinping officially called for the launch of the Free Trade Area of Asia-Pacific for “institutional guarantee of open economy.” http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-11-19/tpp-dead-china-officially-launches-its-own-pacific-trade-deal
Of course, not all nations in Asia are looking towards China, but many are, to use an American expression, “hedging their bets.” They see China’s rise, various declines in the USA, and hence think they see that the “handwriting is on the wall.”
While few seem to really know how this will end, the Bible tells of a time when there will be a confederation of the ‘kings of the east’ that will get together:
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. (Revelation 16:12-16)
This will include Russia, China, Korea, Japan, and probably Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines. Things will one day dramatically change, militarily, in Asia, in terms of cooperation.
Notice also the following:
13 Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. (Revelation 9:13-17).
Only China, and possibly India and others in Asia (many of which will one-day align themselves with China and Russia against the European Empire), are capable of fielding a two hundred million man army. Thus, Revelation appears to be discussing an Asian role in the end-time prophecies.
As I have written before, there were only about 100,000,000 males (including children) on the entire earth when God had the Apostle John pen the prophecy in Revelation 9:16 that a 200,000,000 man army would form (Rastogi VB, Kishore B. A Complete Course in ISC Biology. Pitambar Publishing, 1997, p. 24). This means, despite those who claim that the Book of Revelation was fulfilled centuries ago (see The Dangerous Rise of Preterists), that the prophecy about the 200 million man army is for a time like we are now in.
In the Book of Jeremiah, it is shown that a northern people (which most logically would seem to have to be Russia at this stage) will be part of the force that extends to the ends of the earth and then eventually invades, end time Babylon (which will be a European power):
9 For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
An assembly of great nations from the north country,
And they shall array themselves against her;
From there she shall be captured.
Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior;
None shall return in vain. (Jeremiah 50:9)50:41 Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon. (Jeremiah 50:41-42).
From a European perspective, Russia is a north country whose borders reach to the eastern ends of the earth, as do China’s and many Asian-Pacific nations.
Donald Trump’s nationalist message may help encourage those in Asia to get closer to China and Russia’s Eurasian Union.
Eurasian forces will one day gather at Armageddon. No, I am not saying that Donald Trump intentionally is causing Armageddon, but that some of his statements are probably going to help drive various Asian nations together.
Bible prophecies will be fulfilled.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Armageddon Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel, discusses Armageddon, some of its history, and what the Bible says about it. Is this the place where forces in the world will gather to fight? Will they fight here or is the related battle somewhere else. Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Russia and Ukraine: Their Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? There is also a video sermon available: Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy and a video sermonette available: Ukraine in Prophecy?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now? Another could be Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code).
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Korea in Prophecy, Any Witness? Where did the Korean people come from? Does God have a plan for the Koreans? Is Korea mentioned in any prophecies? Will Koreans be among the first in the Kingdom of God? Here is a machine-translated link to that article in Korean: 한국의 언어로 : 한국 예언, 모든 증인에?; here is a link to that article in Mandarin Chinese: 在预言中的韩国：有任何证人吗？
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Any Witness? Where did the Japanese people come from? Have they had any witness?
Japan, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: Prophecy Japan in prophecy. What is prophesied for Japan? Will God save the Japanese?
Islands and Bible Prophecy What’s ahead for islands? What does the Bible prophesy about them?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Do You Know That Babylon is Forming? How is the final Babylon forming? Are Protestants such as Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland are endorsing something dangerous? Could Pope Francis be the ‘False Prophet’ that the Bible warns against? Is an antipope expected to endorse a one-world religion? Here is a link to a related written article In Vatican City: New Babylon more openly forming!
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2024 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill? Could a Donald Trump presidency be apocalyptic? A related video is titled: 13 Ways President-Elect Trump is Apocalyptic.
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