Asian Leaders Look to Obama Second Term

Relationship with China may need mending after being bashed on the campaign trail

U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election gives Asian leaders greater certainty that Washington will press ahead with its drive to step up a military and diplomatic pivot toward the region—a move that requires careful management of its relationship with rising regional power China.

But the administration may need to work to bolster ties with Beijing after a bruising political campaign that made China a central issue. Both sides will also contend with new faces at the other side of the table following the expected retirement of senior U.S. and Chinese officials.