From November 3 through November 14, 2017, President Donald J. Trump traveled to Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines on a lengthy tour of East and Southeast Asia. The White House described the trip as focused primarily on three issues: “strengthening international resolve to denuclearize North Korea, promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and advancing American prosperity through fair and reciprocal trade.”¹ With the jaunt concluded, and associated follow-on developments having wrapped up as well, it is now possible to offer an evaluation of the president’s trip. Did it narrow or deepen political divisions in Asia?

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