The country of the rising sun is being visited today by U.S. President Barack Obama, during his first stop of his Asia tour.

The White House occupant is going to Tokyo, where he will be meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. After Japan, Obama will visit South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The seven-day tour of the Asian continent comes at a crucial moment, with China showing its expansionist mood in the region and North Korea appearing ready for new nuclear tests.

As the American press comments, Obama wants to reassure the U.S. allies that Washington is on their side as a rival against any Chinese or North Korean threats but to also promote a free trade agreement named “Trans-Pacific Partnership”, which has been signed between the U.S. and 11 other countries, of which China is absent.

It is noteworthy that all four countries visited by Obama are not on the best of terms with Beijing.

Specifically, the Japan-China relations are at their worst point in decades, with military incidents between them being common occurence. Since 2012, the two countries are in dispute over the Senkaku Islands ownership in the East China Sea (they are currently owned by Japan and claimed by China).

Obama’s visit to Malaysia will be the first that a U.S. president has made since 1966, and during his stay in the Philippines, the president is expected to sign agreements to revive military ties between Washington and Manila. It is reminded that there are about 28500 U.S. troops in South Korea and another 38000 in Japan.

In the clash over the dispute islands, the government in Washington openly supports Tokyo, with U.S. Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel, touting that Senkaku islands belong to Japan.