East Asia Summit: U.S. and China, With ASEAN in the Middle

It is usually difficult to judge with certainty the outcome of international summits in their immediate aftermath. But last weekend’s East Asia Summit in Bali, Indonesia, made at least one thing clear: The Obama administration has managed to mend the rift with the member countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations that emerged under President George W. Bush. At Bali, President Barack Obama received strong and positive feedback from ASEAN countries. And in advance of the summit, he strengthened the United States’ historic alliance with Australia, a country that seems to be emerging with a new role in the region.

In this context, the People's Republic of China appears to have been left politically diminished. But it is worth noting that both economic and trade relations in the region reflect an opposite trend. ...