U.S. President Barack Obama's begins a four-nation tour of Asia on Wednesday.
Analysts say his toughest challenge will be to reassure skeptical leaders that the U.S. intends to be more than just a casual observer; that it's genuinely committed to countering an increasingly assertive China in the region.
Dr. Jonathan Pollack of the Brookings Institution.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DR. JONATHAN POLLACK, FOREIGN POLICY ANALYST, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE, SAYING:
"The fundamental goals are ones of, if you will, assuring different states of the credibility of U.S. policy, the determination, despite events in the Middle East, and despite events in Central Europe, that the United States means what it says in terms of a redirection to Asia and the Pacific. But at the same time, he's got to very candidly talk to allies about very specific issues where either the US is not in firm agreement with allies or where allies are having big differences between themselves."
The trip in
