China enjoys Obama's absence in Asia

David Jackson | USA TODAY

It sounds like China is seeking some PR profits from President Obama's decision to cancel plans to attend a major Asian economic summit.

State-controlled Chinese media spotlight Obama's absence from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, while highlighting the performance of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping has become the brightest political star on the Asian diplomatic platform," said a Hong-Kong based Communist Party newspaper, reports The Washington Post. "In contrast, America has lost an important chance to perform.

"The influence of the U.S. is questioned more and more."

Also from the Post:

"After the U.S. government shutdown prompted Obama to cancel plans to travel to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Bali, Xi saw an opportunity to press his country's credentials as a business partner to its neighbors. Although Xi did not mention Obama's no-show during his public appearances, Chinese newspapers were not so circumspect. ...

"The government in Beijing has long been uneasy about Obama's strategic goal of re-balancing U.S. foreign policy toward Asia, which many here saw as an attempt to contain China. The Wen Wei Po newspaper, another communist paper based in Hong Kong, said the impasse in Washington proves that the United States no longer has the clout to back up its Asian strategy.

"'Bipartisan games in the U.S. have let the world see the worst of U.S. democracy,' wrote senior commentator Huang Haizhen. 'It is clear to other Asia-Pacific countries that America's return [to Asia] strategy has become powerless.'"