Kerry claims USA still committed to Asia despite shutdown as China takes advantage of Obama’s trip cancellation

John Kerry, Official Portrait

The US Secretary of State claims that the USA, despite its government ‘shutdown’ remains committed to Asia, though many believe this past week has show USA weakness and is helping increase China’s influence:

October 5, 2013

The US commitment to Asia remains undiminished despite President Barack Obama’s absence from regional summits, Secretary of State John Kerry has said.

Mr Kerry was speaking at the start of the Apec summit in Indonesia.

Mr Obama cancelled his Asia trip after the partial US government shutdown…Mr Obama had been due to begin a four-nation Asian trip on Saturday, heading to Bali and Brunei before travelling on to Malaysia and the Philippines.

The White House said Mr Obama’s decision to cancel his Asia trip was made due to the “difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown”. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24410208

October 5, 2013

The top U.S. diplomat warned Saturday a prolonged political crisis in Washington could weaken the U.S. globally.

However, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he does not think that will happen. Kerry said if the shutdown “were prolonged or repeated,” people would begin to question the country’s ability to “stay the course.”

Kerry, speaking at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum at Nusa Dua on the island of Bali in Indonesia, said the U.S. government shutdown is a “momentary episode.”

Meanwhile, the U.S. political stalemate over a partial government shutdown enters its fifth day Saturday. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-prolonged-political-crisis-in-washington-could-weaken-us/1763537.html

President Barack Obama’s decision to scrap his Asia trip is a setback for his much-advertised pledge to shift the focus of foreign policy to the Pacific and a boost for China’s attempt to gain influence in the region.

By staying home because of the partial government shutdown, Obama hands new Chinese leader Xi Jinping a chance to fill the void at two Asian summits Obama had planned to attend. It’s the third time since 2010 that Obama has cancelled an Asia trip, all because of domestic political crises…

The situation works for China, which is rapidly modernizing its armed forces and boosting its regional influence. Xi has been visiting Indonesia and Malaysia this week to improve Beijing’s reputation at a time when its aggressive stance on territorial issues has strained ties with some countries in southeast Asia. Washington’s acute political paralysis gives Xi a freer hand to become the big presence in the room.

“It shows that China has a functional government and America doesn’t at the moment,” said Kerry Brown, a China expert at the University of Sydney in Australia. “It’s just another sign that America is kind of losing its luster, losing its status.”…

Experts in Asia said Obama’s no-show weakens U.S. leadership globally. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/obama-cancels-asia-trip-shutdown-20466485

Many believe that actions speak louder than words and many in Asia are more and more concerned about whether they can rely on the USA. Since they have doubts, various ones have decided that they need to be more conciliatory with China.

I will add that another news item basically said that once certain Asian leaders saw how the USA backed off from attacking the Syrian government over its chemical weapons use, that they feel this shows that the USA may not defend them when they need it.

So, what will the USA do?

In my view, events that happened this week will convince some in the USA government that they have to devote even more military resources to Asia to attempt to reassure allies of the USA’s that its commitment to the region is sincere. In doing so, the USA will more and more somewhat conclude that Europe will have to defend itself, that Europe must be trusted as an ally, and that Europe will have to increase its arms (and the USA will probably give Europe more technology, etc. to do so). And while some of that has been happening, this trend will likely accelerate. The Bible shows that at the time of the end that Europe will astound the world with its military abilities (Revelation 13:4) and even be able to go against those with what appeared to be the strongest military (like the USA) and defeat it (Daniel 11:39). Australia will learn that the USA will not ultimately be able to defend that land either.

While most of the mainstream press in the USA seems to be focusing on the domestic impact of the ‘shutdown,’ it is the international ramifications that will matter more in the long run. And the USA continues to embarrass itself and expose weaknesses in its international leadership with its numerous budget issues. It is showing the world that the USA’s governmental system is not currently capable of truly dealing with various important matters. This is causing a loss of respect of the USA around the world.

Unlike the USA which has to borrow to keep its government afloat, China can lend. China does not need to shut down its government because of debt or the type of squabbling that the USA politicians are involved in. This does not mean that China will not have other problems, but that some issues that the USA faces are not only embarrassing, they are telling the world that the USA is a declining power. This does not bode well for the USA.

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