President Obama has departed for a trip to Asia that will provide his first opportunity to put his stamp on U.S.-China relations. Security, the environment, and the economy will also be on his agenda as he visits Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. Our relationship with China has always been complex and even contradictory at times as U.S. commercial and strategic interests clash with human rights concerns. This overview from The Washington Post provides a timeline of presidential trips and major events from 1972 to the present. Critics of the president will no doubt claim this trip to Asia will be yet another “apology tour” in which Obama seeks to restore ties by admitting past mistakes. In When Obama Goes to Beijing, Brookings scholars Cheng Li and Jordan Lee note the fine line Obama will have to walk between demonstrating respect for China while strongly representing American ideals and interests.
