US Lets China Dominate Asia

The U.S. is so wrapped up in the Middle East that it's sacrificing chances to improve relations with Asia, leaving China to dominate the region, Newsweek's Fareed Zakaria contends. "Beijing has become remarkably adept at using its political and economic muscle in a patient, low-key and highly effective manner," he writes.

The U.S. position on Israel rankles Muslims, who make up nearly half of Southeast Asia's population, and would-be allies are put off by the country's plummeting international reputation. "China will be here for 2,000 years," predicts Singapore's prime minister. "America is here today but may go away." (More Asia stories.)