Tillerson to visit the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia in swing through Southeast Asia

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will travel to the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia August 5 to August 9, the State Department said on Tuesday.

The meetings are expected to focus on US policy toward Asia following the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal in January, as well as a rising threat of terrorism in the region such as the siege by Islamic State-linked militants of the southern Philippine island of Mindanao.

“During these meetings, Secretary Tillerson will meet with his counterparts and discuss a range of issues including the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, maritime security, and counterterrorism,” the department said in a statement.

Tillerson is scheduled to participate in a US-ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting and a Lower Mekong Initiative ministerial meeting on Sunday, as well as a foreign ministerial meeting of the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum on Monday.

The EAS brings together the 10-member ASEAN and other regional powers such as Japan, China, South Korea, India, Russia and Australia. The ARF also involves North Korea.

“Secretary Tillerson’s travel reaffirms the administration’s commitment to further broaden and enhance US economic and security interests in the Asia-Pacific region,” the statement said.