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WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama's recent visits to India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan have been viewed by some as exposing a new reality that in a multi-polar world, America is no longer the only big brother in the neighbourhood.
With that in mind, and with the spectre of a continued sluggish economy, President Obama's trips were designed to cement new trade alliances as a way to stay in the game.
Following a mid-term election drubbing for the Democrats, the president has been scoping out solutions.
He wants America to double exports by 2015, eyeing hundreds of millions of potential customers in emerging Asia.
US-ASEAN Business Council's Anthony Nelson said: "I don't know that its a decline in American influence, so much as a growth in some influence from other parts of the world.
"This is going to be a multi-polar century. You know we've seen unprecedented growth in China, in Southeast Asia, in India. As we move forward into the new century, we're going to have to get adjusted to a new type of world".
So in India, there were US$10 billion in new trade deals to sign for companies like Boeing.
The US also lifted restrictions on advanced technologies in areas like defence, space and nuclear development.
In Indonesia, President Obama had just one day to make up for two previously cancelled trips.
Samuels International's Sourabh Gupta said: "The president has been seen to take (indonesia) for granted and it would have been better if he had stayed a little longer, shown it a greater degree of attention."
Others say despite the short trip, it was a decent start and a sign of willing.
Heritage Foundation research fellow Derek Scissors said: "The first step is for the US to say, yes we do value this relationship, we want to upgrade this relationship and we'd like to start now, and there's no better way to do that than a presidential visit".
Critics of the Mr Obama say he falsely raised expectations that a long-awaited trade deal with Korea would be completed during his visit.
Delays were reportedly caused by concerns from Congress about access for US automakers in Korea.
"Obviously it's important to get the deal done," Mr Nelson said.
"But I think it's important to take the time, rather than to sign off on something they're not going to be able to get though Congress.
"So if they need a few more weeks to get that done, then in a year or two this is not going to look like a blunder; it'll just be a slight bump in the road on the way to getting it finished."
President Obama's Asia trip may well have raised questions about the limitation of American power and influence.
But the trip also demonstrates that US policymakers are beginning to adjust to new realities, to forge new alliances in Asia to stay in the game.
-CNA/wk
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