US President Joe Biden has opened a summit of Southeast Asian leaders with a promise to spend $ 150 million on their infrastructure, security, epidemic preparedness and other efforts aimed at counteracting China’s influence.
On Thursday, Biden began a two-day conference with the 10th Southeast Asian Organization (ASEAN) in Washington for a dinner of leaders at the White House ahead of talks at the State Department on Friday. Biden smiled broadly as he took a group photo at the South Lawn of the White House before dinner with representatives from Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is on the agenda
While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is in the agenda, Biden officials hope that efforts will show countries that Washington is still embroiled in the Indo-Pacific and China’s long-standing challenge, which it sees as a major rival of the country. In November alone, China pledged $ 1.5 billion in development assistance to ASEAN countries over three years to fight COVID and economic recovery.
“We need to grow our game in Southeast Asia,” a senior US administration official told reporters. “We are not asking for countries to choose between America and China. We want to make it clear though that America wants strong relations.” The new financial commitments include a $ 40 million investment in infrastructure aimed at helping to reduce regional power and $ 60 million in maritime security, as well as a $ 15 million health grant to help early COVID-19 and other respiratory epidemics. . said the officer. Additional funding will help countries develop the digital economy and the laws of practical intelligence. The U.S. The Coast Guard will also send a ship to the region to help local vessels cope with what Washington and the countries in the region have described as illegal fishing in China.
However, the bonds are insignificant compared to the deep Chinese relations and impact. Biden is working on other projects, including investment in “Build Back Better World” infrastructure and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Yet it has not been completed. The conference marks the first time ASEAN leaders have met as a group at the White House and their first meeting hosted by the US president since 2016.
Eight ASEAN leaders
Eight ASEAN leaders are expected to take part in the talks. Myanmar’s leader was not involved in the coup last year and the Philippines is in a state of shock after the election, although Biden spoke to the country’s president-elect, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Wednesday. The country was represented by its Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the White House. ASEAN leaders also visited Capitol Hill on Thursday for lunch with ANC leaders.
Concerns over china
Countries have Washington’s main concerns about China. China’s claim to sovereignty over the vast South China Sea has set it against Vietnam and the Philippines, while Brunei and Malaysia also want a share.
However the countries in the region are also frustrated by the US delay in explaining economic negotiations since former President Donald Trump left the trade agreement in 2017. The US must adopt an effective trade and investment agenda with ASEAN, which will benefit the US economically and strategically, “Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail SabriYaakob said on Thursday.
The IPEF is expected to be launched on Biden’s trip to Japan and South Korea next week. But at the moment it does not provide the expanded market access demanded by Asian countries, given Biden’s concern for U.S. operations. Beijing and the limited U.S. economic grants
Kao Kim Hourn, an adviser to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, told Reuters the country would not “choose sides” between Washington and Beijing even though the US was investing in its country. protester before his first visit to the White House in the period beginning in 1985. Cambodian leader has faced criticism from activists for cracking down on rivals.
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