BANGKOK, Thailand - President Barack Obama kicked off a three-country
Asia tour with a visit to Thailand on Sunday, using his first
post-election trek overseas to try to show he is serious about shifting
the U.S. strategic focus eastwards.
Obama's itinerary will include a landmark visit to once-isolated
Myanmar and an East Asia summit in Cambodia as he seeks to recalibrate
U.S. economic and security commitments to counter China's influence at a
time when America is disentangling itself from wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
But his attention will be divided during his travels
as he faces a
simmering crisis in the Gaza Strip pitting Israel against
Hamas militants and also contends with a looming fiscal crisis at home.
Flying into Bangkok, Obama was due to tour the iconic Wat Pho Royal Monastery and have a royal audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the hospital where he has been recovering from an illness since September 2009.
Flying into Bangkok, Obama was due to tour the iconic Wat Pho Royal Monastery and have a royal audience with King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the hospital where he has been recovering from an illness since September 2009.
He
will also hold talks and a joint news conference with Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra.
Source: The Star...More...
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