Obama Faces Asia Allies Uncertain of U.S. Commitment

President Barack Obama’s trip to Asia this week brings him face-to-face with allies who have grown uncertain about his commitment to the region.

Even with the president’s pledge to continue “rebalancing” U.S. policy toward Asia, the region’s leaders have been unnerved by Obama’s focus on the crises in Syria and Ukraine, military budget cuts, and that the U.S. wants a new “great power relationship” with China that they worry will reduce Japan and other U.S. allies to second-class status.