The consequences of the US government shutdown have not only had an impact on the wellbeing of the American people but the nation's commitments abroad, harming the country's image. Thus far, President Barack Obama has been forced to cancel an important trip to Asia with stops in Malaysia, the Philippines and Bali for the APEC Summit, leaving the door open for China to fill the void - which Chinese President Xi Jinping is working on assiduously with his current trip to Indonesia.