The isolation of the Americans is the new trend

The American obsession to contain the rise of China in order to maintain world hegemony and domination culminated in the pivot to Asia policy shift of Obama. The key to this move was the decision to move a large portion of American forces and weapons spread across the world to Asia with troops and weapons moving into Australia and THAAD going into South Korea. America also went on to bolster defence agreements and alliance with its long time allies announcing to the world that relations with these allies have been elevated to strategic level, whatever that means. It continues to raise tensions in the South China Sea by mounting provocative 'freedom of navigation' infringement into Chinese islands, violating the 12nm territorial limits. The show of might and threatening the use of force by the Americans became the norm with Commander In Chief of Asia Pacific Region telling the soldiers to prepare for war, that war can be a reality at any moment.

On the economic front, the Americans floated the idea of a Transpacific Trade Pact to raise trade and economic cooperation in the Asia Pacific Region but ominously left out China, the largest economy in Asia and the world, from the Pact. And speaking in fork tongue, the Americans arrogantly declared that all these had nothing to do with the containment of China, still harbouring the colonial thinking that Asians are plain stupid and did not know what is the American agenda and intent.

Ash Carter arrogantly announced at the Shangri La Summit that China stood to be isolated by the Americans and its allies. Such bravado and confidence were soon, within a couple of months, to be turned around and to wipe the smugness and belligerent sly smile off his face when Asean countries started to change sides. The peak of American dominance and control of Asean countries was at the Shangri La Summit when the Americans could count on at least 5 Asean countries to carry its agenda to isolate China. The battle was aggressively fought in the Asean Summit in Laos when Asean countries broke ranks and Asean unity was in disarray.

Laos was the turning point of the American fortune. Not only China's closest allies in Laos and Cambodia defended China and held their grounds, the Philippines knocked the Americans off the table by making a volte face and refused to be the point man of the American attack against China. The Americans lost the biggest pawn in its anti China coalition and the attack fizzled out for lack of a front attacking guard.

Immediately following on the heels of the Philippines, Malaysia has now announced that it would seek closer relations with China and signing a long list of economic, military and trade agreement. Quietly Thailand, another arch ally of the Americans, has cosied up to China with many joint economic agreements as well.

Overnight, the three king pins of the American strategy to attack and contain China broke ranks leaving the Americans with only two staunch and hard core allies. Instead of isolating China in Asean, there are now more China friendly nations in Asean than pro American nations. The isolation of China in Asean has failed and turning into an isolation of the Americans within Asean.

This isolation of the Americans started much earlier in the wider context of Asia. China's two major economic initiatives, the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank(AIIB) and One Belt One Road Project have left the Americans high and dry. The Americans would arm bending all their allies to stay away from the AIIB but failed miserably. Nearly every one of the American allies have broke ranks with the Americans and are members or founding members of the AIIB. The Americans found themselves left out in the cold with only Japan sticking in close comfort. The Americans have isolated themselves from Asia in the AIIB. 

The same story was repeated in the OBOR Projects when the word ''American'' is unheard off, not in their vocabulary. The Chinese initiative involved hundreds of Asian and European countries except for the Americans and Japan, two countries that intentionally or otherwise, have been isolated from this Project.

Not only were the Americans being isolated in Asia, the Americans have been counted out in Latin American, banned from being a member of any Latin American association and membership. Likewise in Africa, other than the war torn countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa where the Americans muscled in with their military might and presence, the rest of Africa is keeping the Americans at arms length. Stay out Americans, you are not welcomed in Latin America and Africa.

Whether the Americans understood this dynamic shift in the balance of power and influence, whether they want to admit it or in a state of denial, Americans are no longer welcome in all the peaceful regions of the world and would not be allowed to create mischief and incite wars.

The isolation of the Americans is trending and gaining momentum. The days of the Empire are numbered and its light is waning.