A tale of two pivots to Asia-Pacific

Forget about Clint Eastwood's "empty chair" mockery of US President Barack Obama at the Republican Party convention two weeks ago. The absence of Obama at the 20th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Vladivostok conveys a multitude of messages to the region.

Perhaps Obama has not "forgiven" Russian President Vladimir Putin for skipping the G8 summit in Camp David, US, which is widely viewed as Putin's snub to Obama after he was elected Russia's president for the third time.

The embattled US president, however, may indeed need every minute at home to campaign for his second term, given the sluggish economy and recently rejuvenated Republican Party which is determined to end the "color revolution" in the White House with or without Obama's birth certificate.