LEADERS Wi Profesor CARI. THAYER, «= T consistently argued lase year, the US policy ‘of rebalancing towards 1 Asia-Pacific had a half “lean President Obama cen in office expired. No mater who was cketed Presiden, the term “iebalance frould be replaced by another Br name ees che ne Peta the occasion of Rex Tilers fie vis to Asia ae Secretary of State thatthe shetion of the febelance came Gp Me. Susan ‘Thornton, the ‘Auistant Secretary of Sate for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, aoted in response toa question thie he term rebalance “wae 4 word that was used co dese is poly in she st admini trai.” She vencued thatthe how Tramp adminiseation “vl Be own fxmulon” scbalance wt not due to ay Pressure fom "China or any Ether country, President Tram Rar caled for peace throug srcogth” by risiog the defente inudge by 10 per cone and by Bullding up the US Navy. At che moment, a newly-appointed Bepuy” Assistant Ne. the Presiden for National Security Suategy, Ms, Nadia Schadlow, har been’ appointed to. the Navona Sctnty Counc. She har been tacked with drawing up the "US Nadonal Seca Sep as mance byte Gongs Tes kely tha by the Sines documents uel he ump admiration wll have cond sew ee dene Phe Trump administration will no longer we the terms Zealns eo” hee Obama adminisration, This does net sgaal any downgrade Veena Boone Ts, Ars. 2017 Peat Ce Te The arrival of the new Trump administration Pacific region. in the US’ force posture inthe RisePaciic, The main cancion that Trump made co hin ao rexiem US port for the One China Policy as precondition of his ‘ephone el with Preadone Jinping. Ie is nodceable. that Tramp has not called China a currency, manipulator recently for hase eaken any action to put 2 high tari’ on “Chinese Foods costing into che US. President’ Trump needs Chins compertion in dealing with North, Korea, which he Us considers the biggest securpy cheat ite inere at present inthe AsiePacife Ehlnn ined on an informal summit at Marlago to gre President Jinping some. Hex tli. In othe: wd the ewe leadee can exchange views and secon vat po ake et ‘fahowe al the formality of an ofl Sat "This fami willbe only che fist President Trump. il gain fiom this inate because the orld community and. hs domeric sulience wil ew his leaderhip in. poste “terms Cooperation berwecn the US and Chim neesuy for lob and regional sabi an security ImpacT OM us ALLIES sige le a che Temp adminiscration is giving priority toalllance celations we Japan dnd South Korea in Noréheast ‘Hila This is necessary to deal with the. North. Korean problem, The administration we he we South Kore aed Japan patch up theit differences ‘over so-called Scomfort. women’ and work effectively ina rilateral frgewor with di 0. ‘Singapore. will welcome ‘amp ols of “peace through sttength” as Tong av it meant the US will temain ed in promoting security and stabiliy in East Asia, AS a trading nation, cooperative US- hina elatons ‘ate vial for Singapore’ prosperity. "Fhough both Thailand and the Philippines are US. ereary alles, very lite if anyehing has been said by ump mins ation | oficial | President ump has not spoken out on human, vights and che bean ‘Thaland and ge elation will noe deteiorate and that the status “quo can be poste drction ASEAN THE US Te scene clea at ths ping chat President Trump and bir innet cide do not value mulatend rpniaaions such the EU and Te G20 They have pot Commented on ASEAN. What tre know of Tumpe views make Ie ikely chat he ll noe be as Xetive ae President Obama in ending many ASEAN eadere tnestingrand ummi, Proposed TRudgetcus to the Department cf Ste may mean hat iis ibunched by the Obama ami isration may be wound back. Bde to ste the Irump Ximinisraion giving. ASEAN tnything, more that, politeal Sapporin ie ducasions with Chinon the East Sen ‘Chinese actions i the as Sea vill become ‘one of 2 puerta ington and Bejing but wl be lower down the tee ‘of pricr- ies At present the Trump dminitraton has no sat to ded with Chine Sercvenet and. militarization in the Ent Sea China wil pl Sole! ging Tel trp dine be US into cooper Selng on global ivues - Now Korte, 1818 terrorism, and certain to result economic and trade issues. On the second level it will convince the US that the Seals lower order issue best let to regional sats. ASEAN and its, members, including Vietnam, should work hard to: convince the Trump administration that continued US “engagement - political diplomatic, economic and deensesecurg is een c© ional peace and stability not only for the sake of Southeast ‘Asia but to balance China #0 ‘that Southeast Asia can retain its autonomy and centrality ‘While ASEAN must hope for the best, it must also work hard to make itself moze unified through stengthening regional community building. ASEAN rust work harder with all it dialogue parmets to take up the slack left by the Trump admin trations ack of fous on, the region core members including Viernam, need to Promote’ new multi-nodl arrangements with Japan, India, ‘ucla, South Kore, New Zealand and Russia. Viecnam, for spar, should ensure that cach of ts strategic and compre- Kenie partnethipe ft © Inother words, uot the Trump administration decides on what iewants in Asia-Pacific, regional states will have to take initiatives to mect current challenges ASEAN wl have o Wa for its cycle of ministerial meetings to take place 0 see if US secte- tas of defense and sat ern up and what message chi convey. The Philippines, at ASEAN Chai, will have to work doubly hard secure President ‘Trump's agreement co atend the annual leaderd meeting Viecnam, as host of APEC, will have co work equally hard to secure Trump's agreement (0 attend the APEC Summit.