In November 2011, Obama officially announced this policy, marking a major strategic shift in U.S. foreign policy from traditional priorities in Europe and the Middle East to a stronger focus on the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2016, Obama encountered heightened tensions with China, marked by periods of "confrontation" followed by efforts to "de-escalate." U.S. intelligence uncovered indications that China was planning to construct an artificial island at Scarborough Shoal. Rather than escalating the situation into a diplomatic crisis, Obama opted to downplay the incident.