President Obama wrapped up his four Asian nation trip last week, which was an effort to promote America’s “rebalance” to the region. Viewed by many in the region as unsuccessful, the trip did not put the fears of the allies at rest, and may actually prove to be inflammatory to the region if the US continues to contain a rising China.

President Barack Obama’s recent trip redefined the United States as “an Asia Pacific nation” that seeks to reassert its leadership in the region. The rhetoric as well as defense pacts with nations like the Philippines demonstrates the pivot towards the Asia Pacific and the revival of “Manifest Destiny” throughout the Asia-Pacific that seeks to not cooperate, but dominate the region.

At the conclusion of President Obama’s four country tour, US foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific seemingly remains unchanged. Promoted as an attempt to bolster relations with allies, many saw the trip as lackluster and devoid of results. While the Obama administration will tout the visit’s success, Mel Gurtov expresses his hope for a more innovative approach in the future.

President Barack Obama’s recent trip to meet with Asian allies was an attempt to reassure allies that they still have US support. In particular, President Obama’s rhetoric regarding the Diaoyu Islands has been seen as inflammatory for the region, however, his statements were simply lip service to Japan in exchange for economic concessions.

The US and Philippines have developed a close military relationship in recent years that the Chinese fear is an attempt to entrap or counter their influence in the region. Recent aggressive moves by the Philippines over territorial disputes have caused China to fear that this relationship will cause greater tensions in the region, and between the US and China.

President Obama's trip to Asia is an important event in the administration's "pivot" or "rebalancing" to Asia. While the pivot may be difficult, all sectors of American and Asian society will be integral in developing the bond that will make this rebalancing successful.

Wu Zurong urges President Obama to encourage Japan to refrain from its path of reviving militarism and instead to seek solutions through peaceful negotiations.

What’s on President Barack Obama’s agenda in Asia? As U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s trip to the Asia-Pacific comes to a close, Mel Gurtov turns his attention to Obama-s four-country trip at the end of April and highlights its significance for US alliance politics in Asia.

Following President Barack Obama’s contentious meeting with the Dalai Lama, Tom Watkins examines the tensions between China and Tibet, America’s fiscal crisis, and the need for the United States to put its domestic house in order before the American public will be willing to engage international issues of morality.

American officials have criticized rightly China’s surveillance tactics but the US is fast losing all credibility to criticize China for any of its domestic and international surveillance activities, writes Steven Hill.