WASHINGTONΜύ–ΜύSecretary of State AntonyΜύ΅ώ±τΎ±²Τ°μ±π²ΤΜύand Defense Secretary LloydΜύ΄‘³ά²υ³ΩΎ±²ΤΜύhead toΜύ΄‘²υΎ±²ΉΜύthis week to reassure allies and partners of US support, the State Department’s top official for EastΜύ΄‘²υΎ±²ΉΜύsaid on Monday, as theΒ Μύ³¦²Ή²υ³Ω²υΜύ³ά²Τ³¦±π°ω³Ω²ΉΎ±²Τ³Ω²βΜύover Washington’s foreign policy.
US tensions with China will provide the backdrop to the trip. Mr. Blinken is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of regional meetings in Laos, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink told reporters.
Mr. BlinkenΒ and Mr. AustinΒ will hold security talks with US allies Japan and the Philippines. Mr. BlinkenΒ will also visit Singapore and Mongolia, and stop in Vietnam for the funeral of Nguyen Phu Trong, head of the ruling Communist Party,Β .
The trip follows a tumultuo³ά²υΜύmonth in Washington. PresidentΒ Β announced on Sunday he will not run for reelection, and endorsed his vice president,Β , to replace him. The Republican nominee, former PresidentΒ , earlier survived anΒ .
Asked what Mr. BlinkenΒ will say to allies about Mr. Β and whether that could bring changes in policy, Mr. Kritenbrink said the message would be that America is “all-in on the Indo-Pacific.”
“We do try to reassure allies and partners that there are certain fundamentals, I think, about America’s engagement that are not going to change that have been consistent,” he said, citing American investments and bipartisan support in Washington for the administration’s approach to the region.
Mr. Trump, who has been leading in the polls ahead of the Nov. 5 election, launched a trade war against China while in the White House, and as a candidate has suggested he would impose tariffs of 60% or higher on all Chinese goods.
He has also signaled he would demand Taiwan boost its defense spending in the face of potential Chinese aggression. Allies of the former president have assured Japan and South Korea he would continue Mr. Biden’s engagement with them aimed at countering China and North Korea.
REGIONAL SECURITY
In Laos, Mr. BlinkenΒ will attend meetings of the Association of SoutheastΜύ΄‘²υΎ±²Ήn Nations (ASEAN) on Friday and Saturday, where China’s Wang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are also expected to attend. A North Korean official would also likely be in attendance, Mr. Kritenbrink said.
In Laos, officials are expected to discuss the conflict in Myanmar after the military seized power three years ago. The US expects Myanmar to be represented by a non±θ΄Η±τΎ±³ΩΎ±³¦²Ή±τΜύofficial as it has been at previo³ά²υΜύmeetings since the coup, Mr. Kritenbrink said.
Mr. Kritenbrink said Washington welcomed an announcement by Manila on Sunday that it had reached an understanding with China on the resupply of a Filipino naval ship beached on the Second Thomas Shoal.
In Tokyo, Mr. BlinkenΒ and Mr. AustinΒ will meet Japanese counterparts on July 28 and foc³ά²υΜύon implementation of agreements reached at an April Washington summit between Mr. Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
There, the allies announced plans toΒ , including the US military command in Japan and more joint development of defense equipment,Μύ²Ή³ΎΎ±»εΜύshared concerns about China and Russia.
Tokyo wants a four-star US commander in Japan to match the rank of the head of a new Japanese headquarters that will oversee all of Japan’s military operations from 2025. Experts say that could lay the groundwork for a future unified Japanese-US command.
The US has said it would , but experts say there have been questions as to where a four-star US commander for Japan would be based.
Mr. Kritenbrink said “command and control” would be discussed, and added: “there’ll be discussions about our roles and missions and capabilities; how the alliance is postured to meet those challenges.”
“The United States and Japan are going to demonstrate in a responsible way how we will standΜύ³ά±θΒ and ensure not just the defense of Japan, but also our contribution to regional security.” – Reuters
