Following the first visit to Japan by a U.S. president in nearly two decades, Stephen Harner examines President Barack Obama’s recent tour of four East Asian nations in order to truly understand how U.S.-Japan relations are advancing and what this means for the future of Sino-U.S. relations given current tensions between China and Japan.

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.

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.

The crisis in Ukraine is geopolitically important for the US; however, it will not derail the US “pivot” to Asia-Pacific. The US will continue to “pivot” towards Asia-Pacific through increased troop deployments, an increased role in conflict mediation, as well as through the promotion of stronger regional alliances in an attempt to contain a growing China.

Two news reports in late January suggested that India was becoming a more active participant in regional security issues. Ted Galen Carpenter discusses how a more assertive India could put the U.S. in a difficult situation.

In response to a recent memorandum created by the Brookings Institution in support of the Obama administration’s rebalance to Asia, Stephen Harner points out why the United States must abandon this foreign policy strategy and allow countries in the Asia-Pacific to establish order in the region without interference.

The US rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific has unsettled relations with China, and distrust between the two countries has deepened since the United States started relocating its massive military assets to the region.