It might be awhile before President Obama lands in either country (USgov/wikimedia commons).

Malaysia, which hasn't had an American President visit since 1966, will have to wait even longer now after the White House canceled his planned trip there early next week. The Philippines will also miss out on a visit from the President as he stays in Washington to try and resolve the ongoing crisis. 

In lieu of visits from the President, Secretary of State John Kerry will instead lead delegations to the two countries. 

Although the President canceled those two stops, he is still scheduled to visit Indonesia for the APEC summit to discuss economic issues, as well as Brunei for the annual meeting of Asean, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. These two stops may also be canceled, however, if the situation in Washington worsens -- assuming that's possible -- according to officials. 

The timing of the cancelation is unfortunate because it comes just as President Obama is trying to shift American policy away from the Middle East and towards Asia to address potential future threats from a rising China. 

This is not, however, the first time Obama has canceled at least part of a trip to Asia because of domestic issues. In March of 2010 the White House postponed his trips to Indonesia and Australia as he fought tooth and nail to pass the Affordable Care Act, before again canceling a trip in June of that same year in response to the massive BP oil spill of the Gulf of Mexico. 

In an effort to maintain the strong ties that the President has worked to develop with the Philippines since his election Mr. Obama called Philippine president Benigno Aquino personally on Tuesday night to tell him of the cancelation. The White House described the call as both a reaffirmation of America's strong alliance with the Philippines, while also noting that Mr. Obama promised to visit the southeast Asian country later in his final term in office. 

Read More: New York Times

Reach Executive Producer Christopher Coppock by email.