China moves to charm Asia ahead of Biden presidency

Name: China mocks the US as Beijing compares chaos at Capitol with Hong Kong protests
Uploaded: 2021-01-11T04:10:34.000Z
Duration: 3 min 23 s
Description: China mocks the US as Beijing compares chaos at Capitol with Hong Kong protests

Soon after his return from a similar mission to Africa, Beijing’s top diplomat Wang Yi makes Myanmar first stop of Asian visit

Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines will also be welcoming Wang with discussions to include infrastructure and the pandemic

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi during a previous visit. Photo: Xinhua

Laura Zhouin Beijing

Published: 12:10pm, 11 Jan 2021Updated: 10:48pm, 11 Jan 2021

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi continued his charm offensive on Monday with his first tour of Asia for the year, starting with an official visit to Myanmar, ahead of an expected policy shift from Washington towards the region under president-elect Joe Biden.

Wang, who also serves on China’s cabinet, the State Council, had just returned from a six-day tour of Africa, in which he visited five countries and pledged to strengthen cooperation in everything from health and agriculture to military and infrastructure.

His latest tour coincides with the final countdown for Donald Trump’s presidency, as the US continues to reel from the storming last week of the US Capitol, and just days ahead of Biden’s swearing-in as president.

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China mocks the US as Beijing compares chaos at Capitol with Hong Kong protests

There has been widespread speculation in Asia that Biden will prioritise the rebuilding of its alliance network in the region to counter China’s growing influence. Under the Trump administration, Washington and Beijing have been locked in a bitter geopolitical conflict on numerous fronts – including the South China Sea and Taiwan.

According to China’s foreign ministry, Wang’s six-day mission in the region will include official visits to Indonesia, Brunei and the Philippines, as well as Myanmar capital Naypyidaw, where he is due to arrive on Monday.

While Beijing did not reveal details of Wang’s visit, Myanmar news portal The Irrawaddy, quoting senior officials with Myanmar’s foreign ministry, said it would be seen as a move to show support for the country’s National League for Democracy-led government, which is soon to embark on its second term.

The news website said Wang – the first foreign minister to visit Myanmar since its elections in November – would also be pushing Naypyidaw to speed up construction of projects under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

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