U.S. President Donald Trump decided to skip major assemblies in Asia, the United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and the East Asia Summit, as well as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Papua Guinea. Instead, the White House is sending Vice President Mike Pence to both the events.
Trump's move easily paved the way for President Xi Jinping to promote China's economic programs, such as the Belt and Road initiative, to the key leaders of the Asian countries. The Chinese president was, in fact, the first leader to confirm attendance for the APEC meeting.
Conor Cronin, a research associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, described Trump's decision as a bad move according to Bloomberg. For Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center at the conservative Heritage Foundation, believed the decision was a mistake.
Oh Ei Sun, senior adviser for international affairs at the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute in Kuala Lumpur, explained that Trump's absence could be misinterpreted as indications that the United States is abandoning its presence in the Asia Pacific. Gordon Chang, an author, and a commentator reminded that China gained an advantage when former U.S. presidents skipped important Asian summits.
China won approval among country leaders when Barack Obama skipped the October 2013 APEC, Bloomberg highlighted.
Instead of attending the ASEAN and APEC assemblies, Trump will be attending the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of a peace agreement that ended World War 1 in Paris, France, the White House said in a statement. The White House said Trump's presence in the occasion will highlight the sacrifices that Americans have made during WWI.
Trump will also take the opportunity to visit Ireland in a bid to enhance bilateral ties between the two countries.
The White House said Trump will attend the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires later in November. The U.S. president will then travel to Colombia where he will discuss possible partnership on security issues, counter-narcotics initiatives, and other regional affairs with his Colombian counterpart.
President Xi will also be attending the G20 Summit in Argentina. Political observers hope Trump would take the time to personally discuss with the Chinese leader the worsening economic ties between the United States and China.
Meanwhile, his attendance at the ASEAN summit will be the first for Pence since he assumed the vice-presidency. The White House assured that the U.S. vice president will highlight the United States' respect for a free and open Indo-Pacific region with regard to rule of law and principles governing free trade.
