Obama Plans to Engage Asia

Under Bush and other presidencies Asia as a whole was largely ignored by the United States. President Obama however seems reasonably determined to change all that. Obama, who has noted that he once lived in Indonesia while addressing politicians and business leaders alike in Toyko, is determined to improve relations between Asia and the United States. He is planning to meet with all 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations, a first for a U.S. president, which includes Myanmar, a nation currently under U.S. economic sanctions. Obama hopes to be able to promote cooperation rather than competition, in the belief that strengthening ties will allow for a balance of Asian imports and exports to and from the United States, thus helping the U.S. and smaller Asian economys get back on their feet.