Three countries, three summits. Obama’s Asia-pacific tour has begun, on the heels of a domestic political drubbing, which saw the Democratic Party lose control of the US Congress. Obama is “expected to try to kick-start his ‘rebalance’ and reiterate his commitment to the region”. He begins at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Beijing, China, after which he will be in Myanmar for the East Asia Security summit in Naypyidaw. After which he will attend the G-20 Summit in Brisbane, in Australia. We touch on some of the issues he will be expected to address, and local politics he will encounter, on his trip.