China-US relations: Pompeo’s five-nation tour reveals how much Beijing influences American foreign policy

Itinerary stops of India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia and Vietnam all have a common factor that interests the US – China

Beijing appears concerned that Washington is chipping away at the influence it has built up in the Pacific

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in Colombo. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:30am, 31 Oct 2020Updated: 11:26pm, 31 Oct 2020

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s five-nation Asian tour rebranded Washington’s relationship with the region around the problem of China, signalling that Beijing has reshaped American diplomatic priorities, analysts say.

Pompeo’s week-long trip to India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia and Vietnam sought to rally together nations troubled by China, with US military deals, and trade and investment promises.

Ahead of his trip last week – and before Vietnam had been added to the itinerary – Pompeo said it “would include discussions on how free nations can work together to thwart threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party”.

While in New Delhi, Pompeo signed intelligence sharing agreements with India, and said the US would stand with India defending its sovereignty as the India-China border dispute in Ladakh continued.

In Colombo, Pompeo said the Chinese Communist Party was a “predator”, and promised to step up US trade and investment with Sri Lanka.

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