US pledges nearly US$300mil security funding for South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged to provide nearly US$300mil (RM1.2bil) in new security funding for South-East Asia, as China forges ahead with plans to bolster its engagement in the region.

Pompeo yesterday unveiled the figure to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers from the 10-member Asean and other officials from around the world in Singapore.

“As part of our commitment to advancing regional security in the Indo-Pacific, the United States is excited to announce nearly US$300mil in new funding to reinforce security cooperation throughout the entire region,” he said.

The new security assistance will strengthen maritime security, develop humanitarian assistance, peacekeeping capabilities and counter “transnational threats”, he added.

The US said earlier this week it would invest US$113mil (RM460mil) in technology, energy and infrastructure initiatives in emerging Asia which he called “a downpayment on a new era of US economic commitment to the region”.

The United States’ developing vision for a “free and open IndoPacific” comes at the same time as China ramps up its influence as part of is Belt and Road plan to bolster trade ties with nations in South-East Asia and beyond.

Analysts have said that a spiralling trade dispute between Beijing and Washington could also ratchet up tensions over other regional hot- spots, such as the South China Sea, claimed in whole by China and in part by some Asean nations.

The Chinese government’s top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, told reporters at the same forum that China welcomed, and was willing to work with, the United States to help with faster development and better security in the region.