China Rolls With Punches

China Rolls With Punches

from The Diplomat by Harry Kazianis

With U.S. President Barack Obama returning to the United States from a highly touted trip to the Asia-Pacific, almost as much is being made of what didn’t happen as what did. Specifically, analysts have noted China’s muted response to various U.S. criticisms and initiatives including over China’s currency, the announcement of a new basing agreement with Australia and questions over China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. In a week that saw the United States make significant headway in gaining traction for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, namely getting a Japanese commitment to take part in talks, the United States has managed to underscore how serious it is about refocusing its attention on the region. China, meanwhile, has remained uncharacteristically quiet. During the week leading up to the ASEAN and East Asia summits in Bali, China issued little in the way of a formal response as the United States moved to ... Read More...