Asia trade talks resume after U.S. exit dashes hopes for TPP deal

As the US steps out of the world, China is stepping in real fast. Japan must become accustomed to the idea of being in the Chinese sphere of influence. It is safer there than being in the US sphere of influence under Trump and his ilk.

Japan must become accustomed to the idea of being in the Chinese sphere of influence. It is safer there than being in the US sphere of influence under Trump and his ilk.

I think the world as a whole needs to start creating alternate trade agreements and structures that the US either isn't a part of, or isn't an integral part of. If the election of Trump has shown us anything, it's that their system is not strong enough to ensure stable leadership. Any agreements that depend on American trade are too risky. We need to stop putting our eggs in that basket.

Nation states are slowly losing their influence anyway. Whether or not you see it as a good thing, the future "spheres of influence" won't be America and China, but Microsoft and Erzhong.

Read Margaret Atwood's Maddaddam trilogy for a glimpse of the future.

"Safer in China's sphere...?" Someone sure hasn't been paying attention the past few years, obviously...

Meanwhile, Reality advances past your dreaming head. Don't look now, or you might spot Japanese and American forces practicing live-fire drills this very week together, practices tasked with removing invaders from far-flung Pacific islands. Hmm...wonder who they're thinking of when they do this? It wouldn't be the Chinese, who promised and promised and then promised again never to weaponize their little artificial islands (now weaponized), would it?

Oh, and don't look over there: that's an America nuclear-powered aircraft carrier force sailing right through the South China Sea, right now.

Yep...America's "stepping out of the world" all right....smh!

@ BNlightened

Well, gokai's comment really struck a nerve huh? If what he said wasn't remotely true, even just a tiny bit, you wouldn't have reacted that way. Btw, he didn't deny the US presence, and its importance, in the Asia Pacific today. All the implications were about tomorrow.