President Barack Obama’s eleventh-hour decision to cancel his trip to Malaysia must have been a huge letdown for Najib Abdul Razak, who had been looking forward to using the opportunity to boost his image as a ‘liberal’ and a friend with whom Americans can do business with.

More disappointed has been the vainglorious, self-styled first lady Rosmah Mansor, who could only settle for the second best and make do with photo sessions with Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping. One cannot but notice Rosmah was tagging along with Peng throughout the Asean Summit in Bali.

As always, Rosmah’s insatiable hunger for media attention is legendary.

Obama has suffered one setback after another in recent weeks. Internationally, his abrupt volte-face on Syria, having upped the ante over a case for military action, has resulted in a massive loss of credibility while making President Vladimir Putin look like a peacemaker more worthy of a Nobel Prize. Internally, the US president has been embroiled in partisan disputes as the Republicans were going for broke by forcing a government shutdown.

In the wake of the domestic crisis in Washington, the eagerly anticipated East Asia Summit in Brunei, which began yesterday, is now marked by Obama’s absence.

NONEThere was even a light moment in Bali when the host, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (left), on Monday surprised the Apec attendants by singing and strumming out Happy Birthday to Putin.

All these latest developments only point to one reality: as America does shutdowns, both China and Russia are quick to cash in on the leadership vacuum in South-East Asia on the part of the world’s sole superpower.

While in Malaysia, Xi sang praises of the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim, during whose reign in 1974 Kuala Lumpur established diplomatic relations with Beijing, the first within Asean. Both Najib and Xi also affirmed publicly that the bilateral relationship is now upgraded to one of ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’. It is envisaged that Malaysia will continue to be China’s top trade partner in South-East Asia in the years to come.

Ironically, the statement came at a time when Umno was engaged in a frenzy of villification of communism following Chin Peng’s death in exile, not realising the embarrassment that this could cause to Xi. Neither did the Chinese authorities offer a word of condolences over the demise of the former general-secretary of the Communist Party of Malaya, who was once a trusted ally of Chairman Mao in South-East Asia.

It was also rather amusing to witness Umno party election hopefuls churn out racist remarks against Chinese Malaysians during Xi’s state visit. The Chinese president naturally pretended all is fine and dandy in Malaysia’s political scene.

Foreign policy based on pragmatism

Hence, I have not changed my view that the rise of China as a political and economic giant will not alter the fate of Chinese Malaysians for the better. Not only is the idea of riding on Beijing’s coattails dangerous, giving uncessary fodder to Umno ultras’ charges of ingratitude, it is also utterly unrealistic because China’s foreign policy since 1978 has been based on pragmatism.

As a relatively stable country and a major partner, Malaysia’s friendly attitude and neutrality on territorial disputes between China and others are vital to the Chinese leadership. Whatever grievances that Chinese Malaysians may feel pale into insigificance when China’s geopolitical strategic importance is taken into consideration.

Domestic issues aside, South-East Asia has long been open to international trade, and the increased profile of big powers such as China, India and Russia will only enhance the region’s strategic values further. In particular, the financial crisis of 2008, the impending competition for energy supply and the Syrian conundrum have clearly indicated that any serious international issue cannot be satisfactorily and sustainably resolved without Russo-Chinese collaboration.

But this does not necessarily mean the decline of America, whose presence in the region remains critically important. Rather, the proactive stance taken by Beijing and Moscow only demonstrates that South-East Asia has shifted from being a US-centric region to being one that is multipolar in nature.

Unlike the Cold War era, the heightened visibility of China and Russia in this region - buttressed by trade - is not a menace in disguise, but merely a counterbalance to America’s disproportionate influence at best.

JOSH HONG studied politics at London Metropolitan University and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. A keen watcher of domestic and international politics, he longs for a day when Malaysians will learn and master the art of self-mockery, and enjoy life to the full in spite of politicians.