U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a whistle-stop tour of the Indo-Pacific, crisscrossing the region to reassure allies that the U.S., despite distraction at home, remains committed to Asia.
Blinken’s burst of diplomacy will take him to Laos, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Mongolia, and Vietnam. Blinken’s 10-day trip from July 25 to August 3 is his longest-ever to Asia.
Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said in advance of Blinken’s travels that Blinken would “[convey to the region] that America is ‘all in’ on the Indo-Pacific.”
Kritenbrink’s comments aim to soothe American allies in the region, who are worried by the uncertainty attached to the upcoming U.S. presidential election. For example, former U.S. president Donald Trump, now the Republican presidential nominee, said in a recent interview that “Taiwan doesn’t give us anything.” Trump also expressed a desire to re-engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
In Tokyo, Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with their Japanese counterparts. Austin announced a new U.S-Japan Joint Forces Headquarters with expanded operational responsibilities, calling the upgrade “one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years.”
Blinken and Austin then met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., announcing US$500 million in fresh funding for the Philippine military and coast guard.
In a press conference before their meeting, Marcos Jr. welcomed his visitors and quipped what was seemingly on everyone’s minds, stating: “I am a bit surprised considering how interesting your political situation has become back in the States, but I’m glad that you’ve found the time to come and visit with us.”
‘Quad’ to expand work on undersea cables
Blinken attended a meeting of ‘Quad’ foreign ministers in Tokyo. A statement by Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S. following the meeting noted the countries’ “serious concern [regarding] the situation in the East and South China Seas.”
Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong, announced the establishment of an Australian Cable Connectivity and Resilience Center to strengthen undersea-cable connectivity, while Washington pledged to train 1,000 telecom officials in the region.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar remarked after the Quad meeting that “the overall messaging is that our four countries — all democratic polities, pluralistic societies, and market economies — are working together.”
Jaishankar’s framing could be reassuring to some democratic allies, who may have raised an eyebrow at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow in early July.
Moscow, Beijing co-operation extends from sea to sky
During ASEAN meetings in Laos on July 25, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Moscow’s readout said the two ministers discussed establishing a “new security architecture” in Eurasia. Beijing noted it was “ready to work with Russia to ... firmly support each other.”
This ‘work’ has been ongoing: on July 14, Chinese and Russian vessels conducted their fourth joint maritime patrol in the western and northern Pacific Ocean and a joint exercise in the South China Sea. Russia and China also flew their first-ever joint bomber patrol in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone last week. Canadian and U.S. fighters intercepted the bombers, and NORAD did not regard the activity as a threat.
While in Vientiane, Lavrov and Wang — as part of a new mechanism solidifying a ‘China-Russia-ASEAN chair' meeting — met with this year’s ASEAN chair, Laos. The three sides agreed to work to better integrate the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, BRICS, and ASEAN.
