President Obama's Asia tour

Children walk near graffiti painted by Burmese artist Arker Kyaw to welcome President Obama, on a street in Yangon, Nov. 17, 2012. Mr. Obama's first foreign trip since his reelection includes the first-ever visit by a serving U.S. president to Burma, also known as Myanmar, the once-internationally shunned nation now showing democratic promise.

U.S. President Barack Obama, center, walks down a red carpet through saluting military guards of honor as he arrives on Air Force One at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra walk together during the arrival ceremony at Thai Koo Fah Building Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra review an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at Government House in Bangkok, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra listen to national anthems during a welcoming ceremony at Government House in Bangkok, Nov. 18, 2012. President Obama arrived in Asia on Nov. 18, 2012 to intensify a U.S. foreign policy pivot towards the fast-rising region on his first overseas trip since reelection, including a landmark visit to Burma.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra shake hands before a bilateral meeting at the Thai Government House in Bangkok, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra attend a joint press conference in Government House on Nov. 18, 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. President Obama spoke of Thailand's support of democracy in Burma, and defended his decision to go to the once-isolated country also known as Myanmar.

"This is not an endorsement of the Burmese government," Mr. Obama said. "This is an acknowledgement that there is a process under way inside that country that even a year and a half, two years ago, nobody foresaw."

U.S. President Barack Obama laughs during a joint press conference with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (not pictured) at Government House in Bangkok, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama, with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, signs the guest book at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 18, 2012.

in this photo provided by Thailand's Royal Household Bureau, U.S. President Barack Obama talks with Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, center, tour the Wat Pho Royal Monastery with Chaokun Suthee Thammanuwat, Dean, Faculty of Buddhism Assistant to the Abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon, in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listen to the dean of the Faculty of Buddhism, Chaokun Suthee Thammanuwat, during a tour at the Wat Pho Royal Monastery in Bangkok, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tour the Eastern Viharn Phra Lokanand with Chaokun Suthee Thammanuwat, the Dean, Faculty of Buddhism Assistant to the Abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon, at the Wat Pho Royal Monastery in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tour the Viharn of the Reclining Buddha with Chaokun Suthee Thammanuwat, the Dean, Faculty of Buddhism Assistant to the Abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon, at the Wat Pho Royal Monastery in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listen to the dean of the Faculty of Buddhism, Chaokun Suthee Thammanuwat, during a tour at the Wat Pho Royal Monastery in Bangkok, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrive for an official dinner at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 18, 2012.

Wait staff stand by with dinner to be served to U.S. President Barack Obama, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and guests at an official dinner at Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama toasts with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra during an official dinner at the Thai Government House in Bangkok, Nov. 18, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama waves as he is accompanied by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on arrival at the Yangon International airport, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama is greeted by a local girl as he arrives with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Yangon, Burma, Nov. 19, 2012. President Obama arrived in the country also known as Myanmar for a historic visit aimed at encouraging a string of dramatic political reforms in the former pariah state.

A crowd gathers across the street from the residence of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama exchanges greetings with Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi upon his arrival at her residence in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012. President Obama touched down Monday morning, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Asian nation also known as Myanmar.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is greeted by Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, right, at her residence in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012.

President Obama, accompanied by Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, addresses members of the media at Suu Kyi's residence in Yangon, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. — AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

President Obama, accompanied by Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, addresses members of the media at Suu Kyi's residence in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012. Mr. Obama who touched down Monday morning, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the Asian nation also known as Myanmar, said his historic visit marks the next step in a new chapter between the two countries.

U.S. President Barack Obama walks out with Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after addressing members of the media at Suu Kyi's residence in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listens to Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi before U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at the University of Yangon in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012. Huge crowds greeted Mr. Obama on the first visit by a serving U.S. president to the former pariah state to encourage a string of startling political reforms.

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Burmese President Thein Sein at Yangon Parliament building in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are escorted around the grounds as they visit the Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama performs a ritual as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looks on as they visit the Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wave as they depart Burma, at Yangon International airport, Nov. 19, 2012.

Cambodians, who were evicted from Phnom Penh's Boueng Kak lake area, hold a rally on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Phom Penh, Cambodia. The protesters were appealing to President Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to help them get adequate compensation and to aid in the release of two protesters who were detained for an earlier protest. Concern has risen in Cambodia over land grabbing, which sometimes involves corruption and the use of deadly force in carrying out evictions.

A boy stands behind a picture of U.S. President Barack Obama during a protest held by Cambodians who were evicted from their homes in Phnom Penh's Boueng Kak lake area, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Phom Penh, Cambodia. The protesters were appealing to President Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton to help them get adequate compensation and to aid in the release of two demonstrators who were detained for an earlier protest.

U.S. President Barack Obama is given flowers as he and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrive at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Air Force One, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, to attend the East Asia Summit.

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on November 19, 2012.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (R) ushers US President Barack Obama (L) on arrival at the Peace Palace for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and US summit in Phnom Penh on November 19, 2012 following the 21st ASEAN Leaders Summit. — ROMEO GACAD/AFP/Getty Images

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (right) ushers U.S. President Barack Obama on arrival at the Peace Palace for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and U.S. summit in Phnom Penh on November 19, 2012, following the 21st ASEAN Leaders Summit.

U.S. President Barack Obama, fifth from left, stands hand in hand with ASEAN leaders for a group photo during the ASEAN-U.S. leaders' meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. They are, from left: Philippines' President Benigno Aquino III, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Obama, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and Myanmar's President Thein Sein.

U.S. President Barack Obama takes his seat at the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN)-U.S. leaders' meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on November 19, 2012. Mr. Obama became the first sitting U.S> president to visit Cambodia as he arrived in Phnom Penh to attend the East Asia Summit.

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, left, speaks to U.S. President Barack Obama, right, as they arrive for the East Asian Summit Plenary Session at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama smiles as he leaves the 7th East Asia Summit in Phnom-Penh on November 20, 2012. Mr. Obama was set to defy Beijing's protests and use the summit to raise concerns over South China Sea rows that have sent diplomatic and trade shockwaves across the region.

U.S. President Barack Obama stands with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda (2nd left), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders including Laos's Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong (left), Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (3rd left), Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (4th left) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen (4th right), and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao (3rd right), Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (2nd right) and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (right), during a group picture before the 7th East Asia Summit in Phnom-Penh on November 20, 2012.

US President Barack Obama yawns as he attends the East Asian Summit Plenary Session at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on November 20, 2012. During the two-day East Asia Summit, Obama was scheduled to hold talks with the leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) along with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Japan's Premier Yoshihiko Noda.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton takes her seat at the beginning of a meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama, second from left, and Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, second from right, during the East Asia Summit at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. At right is Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano.

U.S. President Barack Obama, right, returns a greeting to Bun Rany, wife of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, center, prior to a gala dinner in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. Mr. Obama was in Cambodia on the final leg of his three-country tour of Southeast Asia. Mr. Obama donned the traditional silk shirt for the ASEAN group portrait.

U.S. President Barack Obama, center, smiles as he joins a group photo with from left, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen and China's Prime Minister Wen Jiabao prior to a gala dinner in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama shares a laugh with New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key, while walking to the gala dinner in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama watches as Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard toast at the East Asia Summit Dinner during the East Asia Summit at the Diamond Island Convention Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012.

U.S. President Barack Obama walks to the reception room past a wall decoration prior to the gala dinner in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, Nov. 19, 2012.