Mad Dog an "instant hit" in Asia

That's how the Associated Press describes the welcome given to Trump's Secretary of Defense in Japan and South Korea.

• He picked up love from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who noted Mattis served on Okinawa in the 1970s.
• And in South Korea, Defense Minister Han Min Koo said long tenures in their respective militaries will make it easy for them to work together.

Why it matters: The U.S. needs its allies in Asia. Trump has already pulled the U.S. out of TPP negotiations, and China is actively working to become the region's dominant player.