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Source: Getty

In The Media

Will Obama's Absence from APEC Impact U.S. Global Interests?

Obama’s absence from the APEC meeting is a disappointment for U.S. partners in Asia, but Washington can recover its credibility in the region by rescheduling meetings and pushing forward on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

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By Douglas H. Paal
Published on Oct 10, 2013
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Asia

The Asia Program in Washington studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace, growth, and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region, including a focus on China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula.

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Source: PBS NewsHour

Carnegie’s Douglas Paal spoke on PBS’ NewsHour to discuss how Obama's absence from the APEC meetings in Bali will impact U.S. interests in the region. Paal noted that Obama’s absence does represent an erosion of U.S. support for its Asian partners. Furthermore, given foreign policy issues like chemical weapons in Syria, there is some skepticism among Asian leaders as to whether the Obama administration remains fully committed to the rebalance toward Asia. However, Paal also suggested that Washington can recover its credibility in the region by rapidly rescheduling missed meetings and pushing forward on key initiatives, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership. 

This interview originally aired on the PBS Newshour.

About the Author

Douglas H. Paal

Distinguished Fellow, Asia Program

Paal previously served as vice chairman of JPMorgan Chase International and as unofficial U.S. representative to Taiwan as director of the American Institute in Taiwan.

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    America’s Future in a Dynamic Asia

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      • +1

      Douglas H. Paal, Tong Zhao, Chen Qi, …

Douglas H. Paal
Distinguished Fellow, Asia Program
Douglas H. Paal
Foreign PolicyEconomyNorth AmericaUnited StatesEast AsiaSoutheast AsiaRussia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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