manila across asia countries pull beijing orbit timid stance adopt southeast asian nations south china sea weekend summit clear sign fundamental geostrategic shift gather momentum u.s. president donald trump flurry call weekend leaders philippines thailand singapore might cheer fear predecessor barack obama pivot asia abandon favor america first agenda white house chief staff reince priebus say conversations aim line asian partner case tensions north korea lead nuclear massive destruction asia mention broad strategic goal southeast asian nations need convince unite state still back meantime lean close china soft-pedal quarrel dispute south china sea angle slice beijing one belt one road infrastructure investment program compensate u.s. abandonment trans-pacific partnership trade pact unexpected bonhomie emerge trump chinese president xi jinping could give asian countries confidence continue swing toward beijing southeast asian state want benefit chinese regional economic initiatives american pushback china say malcolm cook senior fellow institute southeast asian study singapore second part balance question hence pressure acquiesce china diplomatically security issue strong philippines president rodrigo duterte pique obama administration criticism human right record last year announce separation longtime ally unite state visit beijing white house describe trump conversation firebrand philippines leader friendly prompt criticism human right watch effectively endorse duterte murderous war drug invite washington underline new-found friendship beijing duterte monday inspect chinese naval ship dock hometown first visit kind philippines years duterte last year put aside legal challenge beijing sweep territorial claim south china sea start negotiate billions dollars worth loan infrastructure investments chair late summit 10-nation association southeast asian nations asean manila several asean diplomats say china send officials lobby philippines ahead summit leaders even gather duterte say pointless pressure beijing maritime activities early draft summit statement see reuters make reference land reclamation militarization dispute waterway subsequently drop reference tensions escalation activities cook say clear philippines steer summit conclusion long cambodia act agent chinese influence asean south china sea dispute thailand malaysia also move close china thailand relations washington come strain obama administration concern freedoms military-dominated government trump invite prime minister prayuth chan-ocha visit washington call sunday former general government eye elsewhere last week approve first three submarine purchase china worth billion singapore prime minister lee hsien loong say washington new posture shift asia political economic balance lee whose country like vietnam show sign move close beijing stress asean counterparts saturday despite trump radically different approach balance tie unite state china trump say attend two summit region november southeast asian nations try gauge far still rely washington shield chinese assertiveness asean foreign minister seek answer meet secretary state rex tillerson washington thursday uncertainty washington commitment analysts say draw asean countries toward china lure cheap loan infrastructure investments tariff cut risk diminish bargain power thitinan pongsudhirak director institute security international study bangkok chulalongkorn university say imperative asean regain leverage bring washington back equation expand influence japan asean precarious position concessions accommodation even appeasement china thitinan say china continue shrewd take asean another ride asean much bad off asian nations pull china 's orbit trump put america first