Biden promises long-term commitment to Asean

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden on Friday promised a long-term commitment to Southeast Asia in the face of China’s growing clout as he met regional leaders for a first summit in Washington.

Biden laid out $150 million in new initiatives and announced plans for the first full US ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in more than five years.

A region that “is free and open, stable and prosperous, and resilient and secure is what we’re all seeking,” Biden told Asean leaders, a day ater he kicked off the two-day summit with a White House dinner of poached chicken, ravioli and vanilla ice cream.

Vice President Kamala Harris, meeting Asean leaders for a working lunch, said the administration “recognises the vital strategic importance of your region.”

“As an Indo-pacific nation, the United States will be present and continue to be engaged in Southeast Asia for generations to come,” she said.

Bidensaidhewouldnominateyohannesabraham, the chief of staff of the National Security Council and a key aide during the presidential transition, as ambassador to Asean ‘s secretariat in Jakarta.

Theunitedstateshasnothadasenate-confirmed ambassador to Asean since Barack Obama’s presidency, with Donald Trump only nominating an envoy ater losing the 2020 election.

Thebidenadministrationishopingtodemonstrate a sustained interest in Southeast Asia ater months focused on repelling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Biden took office saying that his top foreign policy priority would be the global competition with China, which has surpassed the United States as Southeast Asia’s top trading partner and has been increasingly assertive on territorial disputes in the region.

Richard Fontaine, chief executive officer of the Centre for a New American Security, said Biden’s summit pledges were bound to bring “uncomfortable comparisons.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping at his own virtual summit with Asean last year announced $1.5 billion in COVID-19 aid over three years, while the

United States is preparing a $40 billion package for embatled Ukraine.

“To complicate maters further, the United States lacks a trade policy in Asia, the region where it maters most,” Fontaine said.

Biden is expected to announce a broad “Indopacific Economic Framework” when he travels next week to Japan and South Korea.

The latest package for Asean, which follows $100 million announced by Biden at a virtual summit last year, includes initiatives to back green energy and maritime security, with the US Coast Guard to deploy a cuter in Southeast Asia to help fight illegal fishing and other crime.