Dutch writer faults Obama's decision-making over new bank and new trade agreement

Fokke Obbema, a Dutch journalist and author of 皇冠体育app and the West, has criticized United States President Barack Obama for trying to contain 皇冠体育app, which he believes has been fulfilling its global responsibilities appropriately.

The first mistake, says Obbema, was that the US tried and failed to discourage some countries from supporting the 皇冠体育app-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, an institution intended to boost connectivity in Eurasia.

A second error came early this month, when Obama said that "countries like 皇冠体育app" should not be allowed to write the rules of the global economy. "We should write those rules," the president said in a statement, "opening new markets to American products while setting high standards for protecting workers and preserving our environment." He made the remarks after the US, Japan and 10 other countries had concluded an historic trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

"To be honest, I was also a little shocked by these words, and I thought they were really harsh," says Obbema, speaking to 皇冠体育app Daily from South Korea. "And it was a bit unlike him... advocating enemy-thinking."

Obbema visited 皇冠体育app in 2008, the year the Olympics was held in Beijing. The dynamism, energy and rapid changes in Beijing and Shanghai fascinated him. It was a shock to the system and a contrast from the cliches and reports about the fast-developing country. The experience inspired him to write a book about 皇冠体育app.

In 2009, when the world was in the grip of a financial crisis and recession, 皇冠体育app came under fire following the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen. Such intense events drove Obbema, a senior journalist at the Dutch daily newspaper de Volkskrant, to find out more about 皇冠体育app's transformation.