FIRST FAMILY: U.S. President Barack Obama and his family greet supporters before giving a victory speech on November 6 in Chicago, Illinois
　　 In the early hours of November 7, U.S. President Barack Obama stood in front of a cheering crowd and gave a victory speech promising that “the best is yet to come” for America. With his reelection secured and his last campaign behind him, Obama can now fully pursue an agenda of salvaging the American economy and turning attention to U.S. foreign policy. By this time next year, one can expect some major moves by the administration to push new trade agreements, contain global conflicts and wind down U.S. military action in Afghanistan, say pundits.
　　“For reasons of history and political reality, a reelected Mr. Obama is likely to devote more time to foreign affairs. From Richard M. Nixon to Bill Clinton, presidents have tended to make their bid for statesman status in their second terms. The prospect of continuing gridlock—with the Republicans still controlling the House—gives Mr. Obama all the more reason to favor diplomacy over domestic legislation,” wrote journalist Mark Landler in The New York Times.
　　 Pivoting toward Asia
　　If transnational threats rising in the Middle East can be contained, Obama wants to turn away from the region and focus on Asia, Martin Indyk, Vice President of foreign policy studies at the Brookings Institution told The Christian Science Monitor.
　　“I just don’t see those things as high on his agenda versus building a relationship with China, promoting India’s rise in Asia and seeking the opportunities that lie in that region of the world,” he said.
　　Liu Xuecheng, a senior research fellow with the China Institute of International Studies, told Beijing Review that bilateral relations under the Obama administration were more foreseeable than that of a potential Mitt Romney presidency. “After four years of contact, the current officials of the two countries know each other well and have established dialogue mechanisms for mutual understand- ing,” Liu explained.
　　Referring to comments made during the presidential debates, wherein President Obama and challenger Romney argued over who would be more tough on China, Liu said Chinese authorities and academics have kept a calm mindset. “They don’t really care about the China-bashing tactics,” he added.
　　Nevertheless, Liu expressed concern over a recent shift by the United States in a “pivot”to the Asia-Pacific region after drawing down troops in the Middle East, questioning whether the foreign policy focus is an attempt to contain China and create alliances against it in the region.
　　To reduce friction between the two countries and achieve a “win-win result,” Liu asserted the two sides must enhance cooperation and promote the global economy.
　　Jin Canrong, Associate Dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China, agreed that Obama’s reelection was a better outcome for China than adapting to an incoming Romney administration.
　　“Obama’s win guarantees relatively stable Sino-U.S. relations,” said Jin. However, he criticized Washington for involving itself in Asia-Pacific issues and thereby intensifying disputes, such as that between Japan and China over the Diaoyu Islands.
　　This year, top officials in the Obama administration spent much of their face-time with Asian countries that could be a friction point in Chinese territorial disputes. Obama hosted the Philippines’ President Benigno Aquino III in June. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta toured Viet Nam and India in June and Japan in September.
　　On trade, Obama has been promoting the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership with 11 countries in Southeast Asia, South America and the Pacific. A final deal could come in 2013, with the United States opening up protected sectors like dairy, sugar and textiles. The administration is expected to continue fil- ing complaints against China with the World Trade Organization, pressured by U.S. companies to boost their competitiveness against Chinese imports.
　　Jin identified two main challenges concerning the two countries: First, bilateral relations have entered a new stage at a time when strategic mutual trust is urgently needed; and second, new mechanisms are needed to address emerging problems and maintain bilateral relations.
　　Obama has indicated that he will pursue a policy of partnership with China, but he has a difficult task ahead in convincing the American electorate that China’s economic rise does not indicate a U.S. decline. Anti-China rhetoric heated up during the campaign, with Republican challenger Romney threatening to label China a currency manipulator and Obama filing trade disputes against Chinese imports and blocking investment into U.S. wind farms by a Chinese-owned company. Obama may soften his rhetoric now that the campaign is over, but a significant number of Americans believe U.S. debt owned by China represents a serious national security risk.
　　Overall, though, Obama’s reelection is hoped to ease tensions with China. He is seen as taking a softer stance than Romney, who advocated an aggressive policy against China, especially on its currency.
　　 Dealing with hotspots
　　 Obama faces a list of foreign policy and national security issues that have been put on hold during the campaign, atop which is the ongoing civil war in Syria and escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
　　Obama has been reluctant to get involved in Syria, as he ran on a platform of ending wars in the Middle East. Now, however, he may be more committed to intervention as the chaos in Syria could potentially spark a sectarian war engulfing Lebanon, Bahrain and even Saudi Arabia.
　　Regarding Iran, 2013 could be a decisive year for a “focused and assertive” policy, Brookings’ Indyk said.
　　“It’s going to be very high on the agenda,” Indyk said. “Preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons is a critical imperative for bolstering the nonproliferation regime.”
　　Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has repeatedly said she will step down from her post at the beginning of Obama’s second term. The new face of U.S. foreign policy has yet to be named, with John Kerry reportedly aiming for the post. Also on the short list are UN Ambassador Susan Rice and National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, predicts Foreign Policy’s Josh Rogin.
　　Kerry has been chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 2009, and has played a leading role in the U.S. response to the turmoil in the Middle East, especially in Syria. Rice is also a heavy favorite for the role, as she has close personal ties to Obama and experience on a wide array of foreign policy matters. She has faced recent criticism for the administration’s handling of the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and may face a difficult confirmation hearing.
　　“Star power is important in this position. It’s very difficult to follow someone as well liked and capable as Hillary Clinton with the kind of presence she has globally,”H. Andrew Schwartz, Senior Vice President at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told Reuters.
　　“It is part of Obama’s effort to repair the U.S. image abroad, and he feels that stars can get that done.”
　　(The author is a freelance writer in New York City, with reporting by Yu Lintao in Beijing)