Is the Rebalance unbalanced?

[Azor]

So true, the outgoing President needs to grow a pair, while the inbound President needs to think before he reacts on Twitter. In other stories, it is now apparent that China is prepared to give the drone back, but Trump tweeted we don't won't it back. Not sure what that is signaling, but I have to assume the Chinese are equally confused, so this may be a brilliant move, or simply an emotional rant. Only time will tell.

In other news related to the Rebalance, there is growing concern the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal won't get ratified in the U.S., yet Canada, Japan, and others still intend on ratifying it (after modifying it), and leave an opening for the U.S. to join later. The TPP is the core of our Rebalance Strategy, so it will be interesting to see if U.S. influence remains stead, increases, or decreases in the Asia-Pacific over the next four years.

I think Trump's response was smart. The fact is that China returning the UUV does not make amends for stealing it in the first place. Yet Obama is probably relieved and will do nothing...

As for the Philippines, the United States should withdraw from that country and let them export brides and care aides to China. The US has more than enough security commitments in Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. At least those allies can defend themselves to a large degree...

I don't know enough about the TPP's provisions to make a claim one way or another. But it looks like TPP will not be ratified by the United States...

[Bill Moore]

Any strategy must adapt to an adversary's strategy that is opposing yours. While it is difficult to assess what side is competing best when you look with a long view, the short view is not positive for the U.S.

http://warontherocks.com/2016/12/it-...uth-china-sea/

In seeking to minimize the risk of confrontation at every step, the United States and its allies have effectively ceded control of a highly strategic region and presided over a process of incremental capitulation. Bad precedents have been set, and poor messages have been transmitted to the global community. In parts of the Western Pacific, the allies are in danger of losing their long-held status as the security partners of choice.

http://www.atimes.com/chinas-militar...elligence-scs/

Harris announced that Chinese island-building had been completed and the next step was militarizing the islands – something he noted pointedly that Chinese supreme leader Xi Jinping had promised would not take place.

“China is clearly militarizing the South China Sea and you’d have to believe in the flat Earth to think otherwise,” Harris said. The buildup included the new surface-to-air missiles on Woody Island, new radars on the Cuarteron Reef, the 10,000-foot runway on Subi Reef, on Fiery Cross Reef and other places.

http://www.voanews.com/a/thailand-ex...s/3652487.html

During the talks, China accepted a Thai proposal to build a maintenance and production center for Chinese weapons in Thailand. Prawit also invited China to join Exercise Cobra Gold, a series of military exercises in Thailand that are led by the United States.

Despite the growing relationship with China, Thailand is now setting a more moderate course by building closer ties with major powers such as Japan and India and reconnecting with the United States. Bilateral relations with Bangkok's longstanding ally were downgraded amid Washington's pressure on Thailand over that country's fishing industry and human rights issues.

More to follow when I have time.