Obama's rebalancing may backfire

Balance has become a key word in Asia. Before US President Barack Obama visited Asia, he said to the Japanese media that the goal of his Asia trip is to assure the US' Asian allies that the United States won't change its rebalancing strategy in Asia due to other international issues. However, what Obama brought to Asia was anything but balance.

The US government pursues a "hub and stroke" mode in Asia, and Obama visited three Asian allies of the US-Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines-and Malaysia.

Although China was not included as a destination, it was the raison d'��tre of the trip.