China loomed large in U.S. President Barack Obama's recent trip through four Asian countries, a trip in which he tried to allay concerns among allies about Washington's security commitments in the region — without antagonizing Beijing.
In a sense, Obama appeared to be making it clear that the United States would not risk jeopardizing its relations with China even as he seeks to solidify defense ties with its traditional allies. Japan must not lose sight of the overall picture of the U.S. policy in the region as it continues to face strained ties with its Northeast Asian neighbors.
Obama's April 23-29 visit to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines came after his administration's policy of rebalancing U.S. foreign policy to focus on the Asia-Pacific was seen as lacking in substance and as his responses to the Syrian and Ukraine crises were perceived as weak.