Asian officials regret cancellation of Obama's APEC trip
- 11 years ago
As leaders and ministers gather in the Indonesian island of Bali for the Asia-Pacific Economic cooperation meeting there will be one person missing from the family photograph.
President Barack Obama called off his plans to visit Asia for one week and attend two summits because of the U.S. government shutdown.
He's also cancelled visits to Malaysia and the Philippines due to his budget struggle in the U.S. Congress.
The news has raised questions about Obama's aim to rebalance U.S. foreign policy towards Asia.
Indonesian officials said they were surprised.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) INDONESIAN INFORMATION MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GATOT DEWO BROTO, SAYING:
"We were slightly surprised and disappointed due to the cancellation. But on the other side we understand."
Obama was scheduled to meet Russian, Chinese and Japanese leaders among others at the summits....and to hold critical talks on the Syria crisis and the disputed territories in the South China Sea.
President Barack Obama called off his plans to visit Asia for one week and attend two summits because of the U.S. government shutdown.
He's also cancelled visits to Malaysia and the Philippines due to his budget struggle in the U.S. Congress.
The news has raised questions about Obama's aim to rebalance U.S. foreign policy towards Asia.
Indonesian officials said they were surprised.
(SOUNDBITE)(English) INDONESIAN INFORMATION MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, GATOT DEWO BROTO, SAYING:
"We were slightly surprised and disappointed due to the cancellation. But on the other side we understand."
Obama was scheduled to meet Russian, Chinese and Japanese leaders among others at the summits....and to hold critical talks on the Syria crisis and the disputed territories in the South China Sea.