Kerry Emphasizes US Commitment To Asia Despite President’s Absence At Summit

04:59

October 08, 2013

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, left, sits with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono prior to their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bali, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. (Beawiharta via AP)

This week, President Obama was a no-show in East Asia for a big economic summit where he planned to meet with allies. The president stayed in Washington to deal with the government shutdown, which is now in its eighth day.

But the president was missed in Asia, where America’s friends there are looking to the U.S. for help standing up to China. NPR's Frank Langfitt joins Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson to explain.

Guest

Frank Langfitt, Shanghai correspondent for NPR. He tweets @franklangfitt.

This segment aired on October 8, 2013.