U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday the first summit in Washington with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) marked the launch of a “new era” of relations between the United States and the bloc of 10 countries. The “vision statement” after the two-day meeting, both sides took what analysts call a symbolic step of committing to extend their strategic relationship from a strategic partnership back to “full strategic cooperation” in November. In Ukraine they also reaffirmed “respect for sovereignty, political independence, and local integrity,” said regional experts ahead of previous ASEAN statements. The statement did not name Russia in its 24-day attack on February.
The summit marked the first time ASEAN leaders met as a group in Washington and their first meeting hosted by the US president since 2016. of China, considering it its main rival, despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He hopes to urge ASEAN countries to intensify their efforts in Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
ASEAN leaders
Biden told ASEAN leaders that “most of our world history in the next 50 years will be written in ASEAN countries, and our relationship with you is the future, in the decades to come.” The U.S.-ASEAN partnership is “critical” and stated: “We are introducing a new era – a new era – in U.S.-ASEAN relations.” Deputy President Kamala Harris said the United States would stay in Southeast Asia for “generations” and stressed the need to maintain maritime independence, which the United States says is being challenged by China.
“The United States and ASEAN have shared the vision of this region, and together we will monitor the threats of international law and procedure,” Harris said. Neither he nor Biden called China by name. The United States has accused China of using its neighbors’ powers. Harris said Washington will continue to respond with ASEAN to the threat of COVID-19, as it has given us more than 115 million goals in the region. He said both sides must show a shared commitment to climate change, accelerate energy efficiency, and meet sustainable infrastructure needs.
ASEAN groups are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Myanmar leader has not been included in the conference since being ousted last year. The Philippine agreement, a post-election reform, was represented at a meeting by its foreign minister. Biden hosted a dinner at the White House on Thursday, and his management pledged $ 150 million in facilities including infrastructure, security, epidemic preparedness and clean energy.
Illegal fishing in China
The new US commitment will include the deployment of a Coast Guard region to help combat what the United States and regional countries describe as illegal fishing in China. However, spending in the US is lower than in China, which in November alone promised $ 1.5 billion in ASEAN development assistance over three years to fight COVID and economic recovery.
Biden on Friday announced the appointment of Yohannes Abraham, a chief of staff at his National Security Council, as ASEAN ambassador, filling a vacant position since the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017. Biden is working on other projects, including the “Build Back Better World Investment Infrastructure” and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).Gregory Poling, a Southeast Asian specialist at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the conference was about modeling and economics as non-existent, as the IPEF is expected to be launched until Biden visits Japan in May. “Everyone seems happy and the message of commitment is coming. But … we are humble, if we put it bluntly, $ 150 million will not hit anyone,” he said. “That leaves a lot of rides on the IPEF.”
Developing the relationship into a full strategic partnership with ASEAN and Australia and China over the past year. by name, but he said “the call to honor Ukrainian sovereignty, political independence and local integrity is a clear criticism of Russia and appears to be forcing all ASEAN leaders to never see any Russian inclusion in Ukraine.” ASEAN countries share many US concerns about China’s insecurities, including its claim to sovereignty in the vast South China Sea region where many have their rivals.
ASEAN provinces frustrated by U.S. delays
Yet they remain vigilant in following Washington closely, given their strong economic ties with China and limited US economic compensation. Others, such as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, have historic ties with Russia. ASEAN provinces frustrated by U.S. delays in providing details of economic negotiation plans since Trump terminated the regional trade agreement in 2017. Biden announced its intention to create an IPEF at a virtual conference with ASEAN leaders in October. countries – Singapore and the Philippines – are expected to be among the first to sign up for negotiations under the IPEF, which currently does not provide the extended market access demanded by Asian countries regarding Biden US operations.
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