Obama's No-Show In Asia Shows Off US Government Dysfunction, Boosts China's Xi

[DonViejo]

GILLIAN WONG – OCTOBER 4, 2013, 7:23 AM EDT

BEIJING (AP) -- President Barack Obama has called off a trip to Asia just as China's president is being feted in regional capitals ahead of summits where the U.S. no-show will give China a chance to shine and boost its influence.
The cancellation of Obama's trip because of the partial government shutdown will also undermine the Obama administration's strategic "pivot" to Asia in which the U.S. has sought to focus on building economic ties with Asia and boosting its security presence in the region.

But with Washington's foreign policy still dominated by the turbulent Middle East, questions have been raised about Obama's commitment to Asia. Meanwhile, new Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been visiting Indonesia and Malaysia to improve Beijing's image at a time when its aggressive stance on territorial issues has strained ties with some countries.

"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. "It's just another sign that America is kind of losing its luster, losing its status."

full article
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/obama-s-no-show-in-asia-shows-off-us-government-dysfunction-boosts-china-s-xi

[shraby]

1. Thanks a lot republicans. One more reason to not capitalize the word. I think the 2014 election

is going to clean them out of the people's house. We're tired of them only representing themselves.

[bossy22]

2. you mean the functional chinese government

That employs tortured, secret police, restriction of press to keep everyone in line? Oh how I envy them