Biden to emphasize Asia pivot on tour

Visits to Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul part of effort to demonstrate interest in region, say experts

As US Vice-President Joseph Biden prepares for his East Asian trip amid a bitter row between Beijing and Tokyo, the issue of how the United States and China, the world's two largest economies, handle their relationship has again moved to the front burner.

The White House announced on Monday that Biden will visit Japan, China and South Korea in the first week of December.

"One reason for the visit is to reassert that the Obama administration still attaches great importance to the region," said Jia Xiudong, a senior researcher on international affairs at the China Institute of International Studies.

"As we all know, Obama's absence in two key regional summits has dealt a heavy blow to Washington's image of caring about Asia."

US President Barack Obama canceled visits to two Asian summits and four Asian nations last month during the US government shutdown.

The decision has had Asian countries re-examining Washington's strategy and capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, observers said.

Hugh White, a professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University and a former senior defense official in Australia, described the US pivot to Asia as a failure.

The US should replace the pivot with a policy that works, he said.

White expressed his concern over a possible brewing rivalry between China and the US. He said Australia does not want to choose sides in its relationships with the US and China, and he believes the whole of Asia thinks the same way.

For Washington, the first challenge in the Asia-Pacific region might be the dispute between Beijing and Tokyo over the Diaoyu Islands.

The Wall Street Journal stirred public opinion in China with an article published on Thursday that backs Japan's position on the islands and makes a "rare, direct call" on the US government to take a position on the issue. The office of the US defense secretary said on Friday that Washington's position has not changed.

The US has long stated that it does not take a stand on the ultimate sovereignty of the islands, but that because the islands are under Japan's administrative control, they "fall under United States treaty obligations to Japan".

Japanese media quoted a government source as saying that Biden's talks with Japanese leaders will touch upon the Diaoyu Islands.

But Jia said Biden will be "very cautious on any comment on the Diaoyu Islands during the trip".

"The relationship with China is the most important one for the US in the region, while Japan is its close ally. The US has to keep a balance on the issue and avoid stirring things up. Or that will greatly offset the effect of the visit."