Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Asia this week to reassure allies and partners of U.S. support amid uncertainty surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election, according to the State Department’s top official for Asia, Dan Kritenbrink.
The trip will occur against the backdrop of heightened U.S. tensions with China. Blinken is anticipated to meet his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during regional meetings in Laos, Kritenbrink informed reporters.
Before this, Blinken will engage in security discussions with U.S. allies Japan and the Philippines, followed by visits to Singapore and Mongolia.
Additionally, Blinken will attend the funeral of Vietnam’s General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who passed away last week.
This visit follows a significant month in Washington, where President Joe Biden announced he will not seek re-election, endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, survived an assassination attempt.
Regarding Biden’s decision to step aside, Kritenbrink emphasized that Blinken’s message to allies will be that the U.S. remains “all-in on the Indo-Pacific.”
Kritenbrink stated, “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,” highlighting ongoing American investments and bipartisan support for the administration’s regional approach.
Trump, leading in the polls, previously launched a trade war against China and has suggested imposing tariffs of 60% or higher on Chinese goods if elected.
He also indicated he would urge Taiwan to increase its defense spending to counter potential Chinese aggression. His allies have assured Japan and South Korea of continued U.S. engagement to counter China and North Korea.
In Vientiane, Laos, Blinken will attend ASEAN meetings on July 26-27, where Chinese and Russian foreign ministers and a North Korean official are expected.
Discussions will include the conflict in Myanmar, with the U.S. expecting Myanmar to be represented by a nonpolitical official, as has been the norm since the coup.
Kritenbrink welcomed Manila’s announcement of an understanding on resupplying a Filipino naval ship at Second Thomas Shoal.
In Tokyo, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet Japanese counterparts on July 28 to advance the outcomes of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Washington in April.
The summit in April saw Japan and the U.S. plan to upgrade their military alliance, including enhancing the U.S. military command in Japan and pursuing more joint defense equipment development.