Obama loses his shine in Asia as Xi and Putin steal the limelight

[webfact]

OVERDRIVE
Obama loses his shine in Asia as Xi and Putin steal the limelight
Thanong Khanthong

BANGKOK: -- US President Barack Obama has lost impetus in his "pivot to Asia" policy. At home, his approval rating has fallen to a horrendous 40 per cent. The midterm elections saw his Democratic Party routed by the Republicans, who have taken control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Republicans have pledged legislation to undo all Obama's key legacies, most notably Obamacare. With two years left of his presidency, Obama looks like a sitting duck. His weakened stance in American politics has led to an awkward presence at summits in the Far East. At the same time, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin has emerged in Forbes' ranking as the most powerful person in the world for the second year in a row, eclipsing Obama in almost all aspects of global leadership.

In his Far East trip to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in China, the East Asian Summit in Myanmar and the G-20 Summit in Australia, Obama has been left with just two cards to play - the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal (TPP) and the South China Sea arrangement. Both issues are designed to counter China's influence in Asia. At the Apec meeting, he sought to push the TPP free-trade agreement, which excludes China, but to no avail. The strategy behind the deal is to maintain the status quo of the dollar regime.

President Xi Jinping of China dominated the Apec meeting with a proposal for a two-year study on a free-trade deal in Asia-Pacific, ahead of its deployment by 2025. China is thus playing its own game by moving forward in consolidating its financial muscle and economic clout via bilateral yuan swap agreements and other regional deals. China's single-minded aim now is to push for its yuan to become the world's international reserve currency, at the expense of the dollar.

China recently launched the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, with 21 countries in Asia agreeing to join. The bank's aim is to finance infrastructure projects within Asia, where demand for funds is likely to hit $10 trillion over the next 10 years. India alone will require $5 trillion in fresh financing to fulfil its needs for infrastructure projects to cope with its rapid economic development. Eventually, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank will provide loans in yuan as part of broader efforts to dethrone the dollar as the world's reserve currency.

The US succeeded in persuading South Korea, Indonesia and Australia not to take part in this development bank, which it views as a rival to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. But China's growing clout and deep pockets are hard to resist. Many Asian countries are now more reluctant to follow the US in confronting China. Even Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan has found it necessary to take a more conciliatory approach towards China. Still, his meeting with Xi could not bridge the wide gap of differences between the two North Asian giants.

Any US hopes of using the South China Sea territory dispute to contain Beijing are likely to remain unfulfilled as the balance of world power tips quickly towards the Russia-China axis and the G-7 scramble to put their financial houses in order.

At this weekend's G-20 Summit in Australia, Obama will again be playing along with a broad agenda to stabilise global economic and financial conditions and to find a way to boost growth. Yet most of the developed economies are still facing a debt overhang from the 2008 financial crisis, which hasn't gone away.

A proposal to tackle the "too-big-to-fail" banks will be one focus of the G-20's attention as they grapple with the prospect of a fresh global banking crisis. Under the proposal, the banks will no longer be bailed out with taxpayers' money from their governments. Instead, they will be required to raise huge capital as a cushion against bank runs or potential loan losses in the future. The bail-in measure is defensive in view of the deteriorating global conditions, amid which the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) will now chart their own affairs instead of waiting for instructions from the US as they did in the past.

Against this backdrop, Obama is losing his shine on the international stage, while Putin and Xi are making a greater impact in global affairs.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Obama-loses-his-shine-in-Asia-as-Xi-and-Putin-stea-30247719.html


-- The Nation 2014-11-14

[malathione]

Money talks....

[zydeco]

Many Asian countries are now more reluctant to follow the US in confronting China.

It is the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea who are asking for US backup in confronting China, not the other way around. This sounds like some Thai writer trying to excuse his country's decision to sell itself to China in order, as a thread the other day indicated, for China to turn Thailand into a Chinese toxic waste dump. Come to Thailand, the new Laos. Sort of has a ring to it, doesn't it?

[RustBucket]

His approval rating has fallen to a horrendous 40 per cent.

That is what happens when you elect someone on a racist basis.

Yes he was.....

The only reason he was elected was not because he was best for the job or a brilliant leader, it was because he was black, and the public thought it about time they had a black president.

After the elections, all you heard all over the media was the fact the the USA had its first black president.

Prior to Obama's running for presidency, hardly any black people came out to vote. But once a black man run, then they all come out of the woodwork, making the election the most racially motivated event in the history of the USA.

No, I am not racist for saying this... It is just fact, that most people would not dare to admit to, for fear of being called 'racist', but they know I am right.

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

[Elmer Gantry]

I think it has been a moot point for several years that there would be a non white pope and a non white queen of england to satisfy the non white majority of the world.when it happens will the non whites be racist,if so do the non whites have a voice?just asking.

[asiabill]

"It is the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea who are asking for US backup in confronting China, not the other way around." That was true, but it is also true that the Americans had to lobby brutally hard to keep S. Korea out of China's development bank. Much to its distaste, even japan had to recognise Chinese power and strength. The tide is turning and, hopefully, soon the evil empire will be swept out of Asia. The funny part is that China will not have to bankrupt the US by suckering them into an arms race sort of like the Americans did to Russia. Osama Bin laden has done that already.

[umbanda]

Unfortunately....Obama has a lot of reasons to just let things resolved by the Congress, and do not make any new decision and proposals. He now is just looking for retirement ASAP, and go into the next 2 years without worries, but with a lot of golf and basketballs plays....

[Floater 7]

Get a clue. Obama was elected in spite of being black. Look who the Republican candidates were. A no brainer. A guy who chose Sarah Palin as VP, then a mormon. And after George Bush ran the country and economy into the ground, Obama with little or no help, has helped it recover..somewhat.

[johnnywishbone]

Palin would be a better president than the community organizer racist corrupt arrogant <deleted> Obama.

And I mean that in a nice way.

No disrespect intended.

[Floater 7]

Sarah Palin? Now I know the crazies are out in full force. But not racist? 555555

[Ulysses G.]

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

The American people think that Barack Obama is the worst president since World War II, but being black has very little to do with it.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/poll-obama-worst-president-since-wwii-108507.html

[doctorproc156]

His approval rating has fallen to a horrendous 40 per cent.

That is what happens when you elect someone on a racist basis.

Yes he was.....

The only reason he was elected was not because he was best for the job or a brilliant leader, it was because he was black, and the public thought it about time they had a black president.

After the elections, all you heard all over the media was the fact the the USA had its first black president.

Prior to Obama's running for presidency, hardly any black people came out to vote. But once a black man run, then they all come out of the woodwork, making the election the most racially motivated event in the history of the USA.

No, I am not racist for saying this... It is just fact, that most people would not dare to admit to, for fear of being called 'racist', but they know I am right.

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

You're not wrong but a lot of people were also duped by his progressive campaigns and his policy for 'change'.

But if you ask me, if you vote for either Democrats and Republicans, you have absolutely no right to complain about what is happening in the US. These 2 gangs take lobby money from the same companies and put on this show to make it look like you have a choice. Vote 3rd party.

[Ulysses G.]

Palin would be a better president than the community organizer racist corrupt arrogant <deleted> Obama.

And I mean that in a nice way.

No disrespect intended.

IMO, either one of them would have been a disaster.

Edited November 14, 2014 by Ulysses G.

[mitsubishi]

His approval rating has fallen to a horrendous 40 per cent.

That is what happens when you elect someone on a racist basis.

Yes he was.....

The only reason he was elected was not because he was best for the job or a brilliant leader, it was because he was black, and the public thought it about time they had a black president.

After the elections, all you heard all over the media was the fact the the USA had its first black president.

Prior to Obama's running for presidency, hardly any black people came out to vote. But once a black man run, then they all come out of the woodwork, making the election the most racially motivated event in the history of the USA.

No, I am not racist for saying this... It is just fact, that most people would not dare to admit to, for fear of being called 'racist', but they know I am right.

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

Strictly speaking he isn't black but mullatto - half african-america and half-european american. That's not stopped most of the black population voting for him though

[petercool]

A troll post removed

[Frank James]

His approval rating has fallen to a horrendous 40 per cent.

That is what happens when you elect someone on a racist basis.

Yes he was.....

The only reason he was elected was not because he was best for the job or a brilliant leader, it was because he was black, and the public thought it about time they had a black president.

After the elections, all you heard all over the media was the fact the the USA had its first black president.

Prior to Obama's running for presidency, hardly any black people came out to vote. But once a black man run, then they all come out of the woodwork, making the election the most racially motivated event in the history of the USA.

No, I am not racist for saying this... It is just fact, that most people would not dare to admit to, for fear of being called 'racist', but they know I am right.

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

I have noticed that a lot of expats feel more free, when living outside our beloved USA, to let their more extreme views hang out, as regards topics like race, gender, and class.

This poster asserts that before Obama's candidacy, that "hardly any black people came out to vote." This is incorrect. Ever since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, black Americans have voted in large numbers, usually for Democrats.

People voted for Obama because they could not stomach the idea of McCain and Palin, and then in 2012, to vote for a Mormon bankster, and an Ayn Rand Disciple.

Perhaps a few people voted solely on the basis of race, but most voted because the alternative was unpalatable.

[lvr181]

"Obama loses his shine in Asia as Xi and Putin steal the limelight" Maybe from the writers perspective only! After all, the U.S. and China have reached some "agreement" on global warming. Where was Putin? Posturing and doing nothing! Perhaps the writer is a Putin fan?

[Phuketboy]

"Obama loses his shine in Asia as Xi and Putin steal the limelight" Maybe from the writers perspective only! After all, the U.S. and China have reached some "agreement" on global warming. Where was Putin? Posturing and doing nothing! Perhaps the writer is a Putin fan?

Not a Putin or Obama fan however, while you mention China and the US to coming to some agreement on global warming, China and Russia have come to agreements on oil and gas trade. They also want to change the currency used to trade oil from dollars to ????. What will this mean? This will mean the collapse of the dollar as the dominant currency and the crash of the American economy as well as those countries that follow them. America is the most in-debt nation in the world and at the brink of collapse and other nations have already started selling off US assets and stocks. So of course Obama is scratching the barrel and trying to stop other countries joining Asian banks.

Edited November 14, 2014 by Phuketboy

[Ulysses G.]

After all, the U.S. and China have reached some "agreement" on global warming.

That the US will cut its planet-warming carbon pollution by as much as 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. Regulations to cut greenhouse pollution will result in the loss of jobs and hurt the economy. China can keep going until 2030 with peak emissions and then they will give it some more thought. What a great deal for them!

[Neurath]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

The American people think that Barack Obama is the worst president since World War II, but being black has very little to do with it.
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/poll-obama-worst-president-since-wwii-108507.html

He's certainly the worst black president since World War ll

[Neurath]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

After all, the U.S. and China have reached some "agreement" on global warming.

That the US will cut its planet-warming carbon pollution by as much as 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. Regulations to cut greenhouse pollution will result in the loss of jobs and hurt the economy. China can keep going until 2030 with peak emissions and then they will give it some more thought. What a great deal for them!

They should keep increasing their carbon emissions until they reach per capita emission parity with Australia and the US. Since carbon emissions represent wealth - otherwise cutting them wouldn't hurt the economy and result in job loss - the Chinese would be crazy to stop until they reached per capita parity. And then they'd be crazy to stop anyway because carbon emissions don't cause global warming. This desire to save the planet is ruining the world.

[zydeco]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

The American people think that Barack Obama is the worst president since World War II, but being black has very little to do with it.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/poll-obama-worst-president-since-wwii-108507.html

He's certainly the worst black president since World War ll

He only had to be worse than Bill Clinton to receive that particular honor.

[Sydebolle]

Obama should call Kim Jong un - the fella knows how to deal with a staggering plummeting popularity rating of 135% or slightly less ;-)

[rethaier]

His approval rating has fallen to a horrendous 40 per cent.

That is what happens when you elect someone on a racist basis.

Yes he was.....

The only reason he was elected was not because he was best for the job or a brilliant leader, it was because he was black, and the public thought it about time they had a black president.

After the elections, all you heard all over the media was the fact the the USA had its first black president.

Prior to Obama's running for presidency, hardly any black people came out to vote. But once a black man run, then they all come out of the woodwork, making the election the most racially motivated event in the history of the USA.

No, I am not racist for saying this... It is just fact, that most people would not dare to admit to, for fear of being called 'racist', but they know I am right.

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

I agree with you. How about sex? I would not be surprised to see the witch of Endor AKA Hillary Clinton elected next, not because she's the best candidate, but because she is a pseudo female.

[rethaier]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

People need to learn to vote for whom they believe is best for the nation, not the colour of their skin.

The American people think that Barack Obama is the worst president since World War II, but being black has very little to do with it.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/poll-obama-worst-president-since-wwii-108507.html

He's certainly the worst black president since World War ll

He only had to be worse than Bill Clinton to receive that particular honor.

Surely you jest. You don't suggest either of the Bush's was a good president do you? I know their popularity was not this low, but I suspect, had the public known the lies they told to get them into wars it may well have gotten there.

[chuckd]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The American people think that Barack Obama is the worst president since World War II, but being black has very little to do with it.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/poll-obama-worst-president-since-wwii-108507.html

He's certainly the worst black president since World War ll

He only had to be worse than Bill Clinton to receive that particular honor.

Surely you jest. You don't suggest either of the Bush's was a good president do you? I know their popularity was not this low, but I suspect, had the public known the lies they told to get them into wars it may well have gotten there.

You missed the jest. Try to keep up.

[tolsti]

Obama must be matt as opposed to patent if he has lost his shine!

[SOTIRIOS]

.....17 trillion dollar debt.....and on the edge of complete............ currency........and......economic collapse.......

...that also might have something to do with it.......

[Ulysses G.]

Surely you jest. You don't suggest either of the Bush's was a good president do you? I know their popularity was not this low, but I suspect, had the public known the lies they told to get them into wars it may well have gotten there.

As opposed to the Lie Of the Year used to trick the "stupid" American voters into supporting Obamacare and continuing the same policies that Obama vehemently attacked Bush for? The biggest hypocrite since WW II would have been just as appropriate.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2013/dec/12/lie-year-if-you-like-your-health-care-plan-keep-it/

[uptheos]

Obama should call Kim Jong un - the fella knows how to deal with a staggering plummeting popularity rating of 135% or slightly less ;-)

Maybe Dennis Rodman was passing admiring messages?