Trump's summit no-show draws Asian nations closer together

[webfact]

Trump's summit no-show draws Asian nations closer together

By John Chalmers

 

U.S. President Donald Trump points to the crowd after delivering remarks at an event for "supporting veterans and military families" at the White House in Washington, U.S. November 15, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump didn't make it to this week's summit of Asian nations in Singapore, but his influence was still keenly felt among the leaders who gathered in the city.

 

One prime minister warned that the trade war between Washington and Beijing could trigger a "domino effect" of protectionist steps by other countries. Another fretted that the international order could splinter into rival blocs.

 

"The most important and talked-about ... leader, President Trump, is the only one that did not turn up," said Malcolm Cook, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.

 

And yet, in Trump's absence, countries from South to East Asia pressed on with forging multilateral ties on trade and investment among themselves, including with China.

 

China's representative at the meetings, Premier Li Keqiang, egged them on.

 

"Now the world is facing rising protectionism. It is all the more important for us to come together and respond to the complex world situation to uphold multilateralism and free trade," Li said on Thursday.

 

The U.S. president's lack of engagement with Asian nations came just days after a trip to France for World War One commemorations at which he appeared isolated from NATO allies.

 

Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said Trump was inadvertently bringing Asian nations together.

 

"Not necessarily by design, but because he is not being a consistent and reassuring presence, and because his policies have tended to fracture the natural order that Asia is dependent upon," he said. "Asians are trying to figure out what else they can do without relying on America too much."

 

The White Houese did not respond to a request for comment.

 

TWO POWERS: TWO STRATEGIES

As well as the summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asian nations in Singapore, Trump will also skip the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Papua New Guinea at the end of the week.

 

At APEC on Friday, President Xi Jinping will showcase China's Belt and Road initiative to Pacific leaders, several of whom are expected to sign up to the infrastructure investment drive.

 

Xi's multi-billion-dollar plan, which aims to bolster a sprawling network of land and sea links with Asian neighbours and far beyond, is viewed with suspicion in Western capitals as an attempt to assert Chinese influence.

 

Trump attended both the ASEAN and APEC meetings in 2017, and his decision to stay away this year has raised questions about Washington's commitment to a regional strategy to counter China.

 

Vice President Mike Pence, who represented Trump in Singapore, told the meeting that United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific is "steadfast and enduring."

 

Asia presents the Trump administration with some of its most pressing foreign policy challenges, including its strategic rivalry with China and efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programme.

 

Washington has touted what it calls an "Indo-Pacific" strategy aimed at greater regional cooperation, notably with India, Australia and Japan, to counter China's influence, including in the disputed South China Sea, where it conducts naval patrols to challenge what it sees as Beijing's excessive territorial claims.

 

Pence said on Thursday - without naming China - that there was no place for "empire and aggression" in the Indo-Pacific.

 

His comments follow a major speech in October in which he flagged a tougher approach by Washington toward Beijing, accusing China of "malign" efforts to undermine Trump and reckless military actions in the South China Sea.

 

A U.S. State Department spokesman said: "We welcome contributions by China to regional development, so long as it adheres to the highest standards the people of the region demand. We are concerned by China's use of coercion, influence operations, and implied military threats to persuade other states to heed China's strategic agenda."

 

Shortly before Pence spoke in Singapore, the U.S. Navy announced that two of its aircraft carriers with around 150 fighter jets were conducting warfare drills in the Philippine Sea, a show of force in waters south of China and within striking distance of North Korea.

 

TAKING SIDES

Pence told reporters in Singapore that he had been struck in conversations with world leaders by "the connection that President Trump has made" with them through his vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

 

However, analysts say that countries across Asia are waiting for the United States to put substance behind its Indo-Pacific rhetoric, and Trump's absence from the summits only served to heighten concerns among Southeast Asian states that Washington no longer has their back.

 

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday it was "very desirable" for ASEAN not to have to take sides with world powers, but there may come a time when it would "have to choose one or the other."

 

Some Southeast Asian nations may be quietly impressed by the United States' robust approach to Beijing on trade, intellectual property issues and the South China Sea, but others have made it clear they already see China's rise as inevitable.

 

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, asked on Thursday about the U.S. Navy drills, noted that China already occupies contested South China Sea islands and added: "Why do you have to create frictions ... that will prompt a response from China?."

 

But Cook said Southeast Asian states' hedging and unwillingness to publicly criticise Chinese aggression have contributed to Washington's posture shift in Asia.

 

"This change is certainly not all because of Trump," he said. "The choices of Southeast Asian states in the end bear some responsibility."

 

(Additional reporting by John Geddie and Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore, Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Alex Richardson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-16

[Chomper Higgot]

Trump is imploding, no longer attending to the duties of the office he holds.

 

There is nothing more painful for a narcissist than to have the fabrication of their self image publicly exposed and shamed, and Trump understands that’s exactly what is about to happen.

 

He’s toast.

 

 

[bristolboy]

Who says Trump's behavior is divisive?

[ballpoint]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Pence said on Thursday - without naming China - that there was no place for "empire and aggression" in the Indo-Pacific.

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Shortly before Pence spoke in Singapore, the U.S. Navy announced that two of its aircraft carriers with around 150 fighter jets were conducting warfare drills in the Philippine Sea, a show of force in waters south of China and within striking distance of North Korea.

Nothing new here

[Basil B]

Was it raining in Singapore???

[Basil B]

4 hours ago, bristolboy said:

Who says Trump's behavior is divisive?

Me for one...

 

Did you not read the headline? "Trump's summit no-show draws Asian nations closer together"

Edited November 16, 2018 by Basil B

[candide]

By scratching the TPP, Trump made it open season for China.....

[bristolboy]

5 hours ago, bristolboy said:

Who says Trump's behavior is divisive?

To judge from the one party who liked my previous post and another who rebuttedit, I guess I should have added "His absence has brought Asian nations closer together."

Edited November 16, 2018 by bristolboy

[ResandePohm]

Trump is steadily isolating the US. By not attending Asian nations summit, Asian nations realise that they can no longer rely on the US for support. His actions have already started a trade war which can only get worse. In Europe he persists on insulting the European leaders and their countries and now they, also, see that they cannot rely on the US and are looking for a European Army without the US. They are also saying that yes they can wait out Trump for the next two years but with the corrupt undemocratic electoral system in the US what will prevent another "Trump" replacing him. So now they are looking out for themselves. The American empire is disintegrating so where is his "make America great again". He is doing the exact opposite.

 

Please America, get rid of that buffoon before he does any more damage to the US. Do it soon, because he is now in a big sulk because he is finding out that nobody loves him, at least nobody of any importance, and he is lashing out at everyone including those staff who are still loyal to him.

[Jonnapat]

Best stay at home because no one wants him in their countries 

[Srikcir]

20 minutes ago, Jonnapat said:

Best stay at home because no one wants him in their countries 

Putin might award Trump at the end of his term(s) with Hero of the Russian Federation -

highest honorary title of the Russian Federation. The title comes with a Gold Star medal, an insignia of honor that identifies recipients. Trump likes Gold.

[hugocnx]

7 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trump is imploding, no longer attending to the duties of the office he holds.

 

There is nothing more painful for a narcissist than to have the fabrication of their self image publicly exposed and shamed, and Trump understands that’s exactly what is about to happen.

 

He’s toast.

 

 

No, he's a clever narcissist

[farcanell]

27 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Putin might award Trump at the end of his term(s) with Hero of the Russian Federation -

highest honorary title of the Russian Federation. The title comes with a Gold Star medal, an insignia of honor that identifies recipients. Trump likes Gold.

A gold medal and a nice wee dacha on the Black Sea.

[Pedrogaz]

I suppose the basic problem with Trump is would you want him next to you in a foxhole? Clearly no, the person you would want would be to some extent trustworthy, which our friend Trump is not.

Edited November 16, 2018 by Pedrogaz
spelling

[Pedrogaz]

2 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Putin might award Trump at the end of his term(s) with Hero of the Russian Federation -

highest honorary title of the Russian Federation. The title comes with a Gold Star medal, an insignia of honor that identifies recipients. Trump likes Gold.

Trump doesn't;t turn up for an asian meeting and you bring up Putin. Why? Are you being clever?

[Redline]

10 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Trump is imploding, no longer attending to the duties of the office he holds.

 

There is nothing more painful for a narcissist than to have the fabrication of their self image publicly exposed and shamed, and Trump understands that’s exactly what is about to happen.

 

He’s toast.

 

 

He’s a laughing stock.  No one trusts him because he lies constantly-he’s a sham

[hugocnx]

53 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

I suppose the basic problem with Trump is would you want him next to you in a foxhole? Clearly no, the person you would want would be to some extent trustworthy, which our friend Trump is not.

I would. Probably a very interesting opportunity and boy, together bashing democrats and other funny people like Macron. Hope he brings some good American wines.

[Tug]

Awww poor poor Donald no body wants to play hopefully the fraud will be gone soon you wouldn’t want him there anyway can’t trust him and he would screw it up anyway

[spidermike007]

This is fairly typical of his make America less great by the day campaign. He is succeeding. Within 10-15 years the US will be less relevant than ever. China, India and Japan will probably overtake the US economy. The military will remain large but dysfunctional. Immigration policy will remain broken along with the electoral system. The slide was already happening but Trump accelerated it dramatically with his utter foolishness and total inability to negotiate anything. 

 

Frankly, it is time for the US to step aside. 

[Tug]

I disagree if one positive thing I can say about trump he is a wake up call we are paying attention now a new young generation is blossoming in the age of tec let’s hope and pray for the best

[bendejo]

10 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Putin might award Trump at the end of his term(s) with Hero of the Russian Federation -

highest honorary title of the Russian Federation. The title comes with a Gold Star medal, an insignia of honor that identifies recipients. Trump likes Gold.

 

DT may be a resident of Russia by then. 

Business possibility for the near future: selling tours that feature seeing DT's dacha (sort of like tours to see the outside of movie stars' homes in Hollywood).  Centering on the redneck crowd, promise customers that all meals will consist of deep-fried food and bacon.  Tour guides will lead the tourists in chants of "lock her up!" and "build the wall!"  And of course DT will demand a cut of the enterprise.

 

 

[bristolboy]

12 hours ago, hugocnx said:

I would. Probably a very interesting opportunity and boy, together bashing democrats and other funny people like Macron. Hope he brings some good American wines.

Despite what you understandably enough might think given Trump's behaviour, he doesn't drink alcohol. 

Edited November 17, 2018 by bristolboy

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Despite what you understandably enough might think given Trump's behaviour, he doesn't drink alcohol. 

Correct, he doesn’t give alcohol so much of a sniff.

[Burma Bill]

Perhaps he was too busy rehearsing his pantomime part at the White House!

[MartinBangkok]

21 hours ago, ResandePohm said:

Trump is steadily isolating the US. By not attending Asian nations summit, Asian nations realise that they can no longer rely on the US for support. His actions have already started a trade war which can only get worse. In Europe he persists on insulting the European leaders and their countries and now they, also, see that they cannot rely on the US and are looking for a European Army without the US. They are also saying that yes they can wait out Trump for the next two years but with the corrupt undemocratic electoral system in the US what will prevent another "Trump" replacing him. So now they are looking out for themselves. The American empire is disintegrating so where is his "make America great again". He is doing the exact opposite.

 

Please America, get rid of that buffoon before he does any more damage to the US. Do it soon, because he is now in a big sulk because he is finding out that nobody loves him, at least nobody of any importance, and he is lashing out at everyone including those staff who are still loyal to him.

Nobody loves him.. except the American people who voted him in as President

[bristolboy]

10 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

Nobody loves him.. except the American people who voted him in as President

"The American People" love him? All of them? The preponderance of them? The majority of them?

Are you at all familiar with the 2016 totals of how American voters voted?

[Scott]

Troll post and reply removed.  

 

[Srikcir]

17 hours ago, MartinBangkok said:

except the American people who voted him in as President

Actually it was the Electoral College that voted Trump in as POTUS.

The EC count is defined by the Constitution and not by emotions such as passion or rage.

As far as the popular vote, Trump won by carrying key electoral state votes through in part Democrat crossover and Independent voters seeking any alternative to H. Clinton. Love for Trump didn't carry his win. Within Trump's first six months in office he clearly began to lose those non-Republican supporters and the Mid-Term results for the U.S. House of Representatives showed the reversal was enduring.

 

[MartinBangkok]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Actually it was the Electoral College that voted Trump in as POTUS.

The EC count is defined by the Constitution and not by emotions such as passion or rage.

As far as the popular vote, Trump won by carrying key electoral state votes through in part Democrat crossover and Independent voters seeking any alternative to H. Clinton. Love for Trump didn't carry his win. Within Trump's first six months in office he clearly began to lose those non-Republican supporters and the Mid-Term results for the U.S. House of Representatives showed the reversal was enduring.

 

A study of historical Mid-Term elections shows that Mr. Donald didn't fair badly at all. You want the link?

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, MartinBangkok said:

A study of historical Mid-Term elections shows that Mr. Donald didn't fair badly at all. You want the link?

Yes