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Kamala Harris’ trip to Asia will show US is in the region ‘to stay’
- The US vice-president will continue to work on issues tied to Afghanistan during her visit, according to a senior Biden official
- Harris is due in Singapore on Sunday and will be the first US vice-president to visit Vietnam when she arrives in the country on Tuesday
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US Vice-President Kamala Harris will look to bolster economic and military cooperation in China’s backyard as she visits Singapore and Vietnam starting this weekend in the Biden administration’s most high-profile trip yet to Asia.
The White House has gone on the diplomatic offensive in Southeast Asia after years of passive US engagement, recently sending top diplomats to the region along with Covid-19 vaccines that have accounted for about a fifth of the 111.7 million doses it donated globally.
In addition to securing a key military deal with the Philippines in July, the approach signals a more assertive posture in a part of the world that has grown more economically dependent on China.
Southeast Asian leaders will be looking for Harris to reassure them of America’s role as a major trading partner that offers a reliable security presence against Beijing’s assertiveness in areas like the South China Sea. But they’re also wary of any comments that may force them to choose between the United States and China on issues from 5G networks to financial aid.
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“In many ways, the US is playing catch-up in Asia as a result of its paying little attention to the region over the last 20 years,” said Carl Schuster, a former operations director at US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center.
“I can assure you no Southeast Asian country wants to choose between the US and China. They see no benefits to choosing sides and a lot of disadvantages.”
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For Harris, the trip is an opportunity to raise her international profile as she is expected to run again for president after she pulled out of the 2020 contest and later became Joe Biden’s running mate.
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