Time bomb in Asia-Pacific

Washington's persistence in pushing its pivot to Asia strategy reveals the fragility of US power and its Cold War mentality

Prior to his departure from the recently concluded G20 Summit in Australia, US President Barack Obama, in a speech at the University of Queensland on Saturday, stressed that the Asia-Pacific region would remain a "fundamental focus" of US foreign policy and pledged to deepen the US' military engagement in the region. Obama's words, confirming Washington's strategic shift toward the Asia-Pacific in a bid to consolidate its global leadership, revealed the fragility rather than the might of US dominance.

For starters, by pledging to enrich its military ties and trade relations with Asian countries, the Obama administration sought to allay concerns among its allies about the US commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. Washington's over-emphasis on strengthening its regional military alliances, however, exposes its real attempt to cut off Asia-Pacific integration, in which Asian countries have been the major driver.