As Obama tours Asia, a chronology of issues on the agenda

US President Barack Obama’s weeklong trip throughout Asia, which ends April 29, is largely a media event that will have few implications beyond soothing Asian leaders, who are concerned that the United States is distracted by events in the Middle East and Ukraine. Geopolitically, the trip is of little significance. Topics on the agenda, however, certainly include America’s so-called pivot to Asia through the stalled Trans-Pacific Partnership, trade issues with Japan and the country’s reinvigorated military, growing tensions over disputed small island chains and shoals throughout the region, the renewal of a US military presence in the Philippines, Malaysia’s democracy, and the country’s missing jetliner.

Below are recent Stratfor analyses of these and related issues.