US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will head to Southeast Asia next week after attending the Group of Seven meeting in Liverpool. Photo: AFP

 

● Discussions will include the crisis in Myanmar, and ‘strengthening regional security infrastructure in response to PRC bullying in the South China Sea’

 

● Washington’s latest diplomatic flurry in Southeast Asia comes as Beijing is also seeking closer ties in the region

 

By Laura Zhou

 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand next week on his first trip to Southeast Asia, as Washington seeks to ramp up engagement with the region.

 

The four-day trip will come after Blinken attends a Group of Seven meeting of foreign ministers in the British city of Liverpool over the weekend. Top diplomats from Australia, India, South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will join the gathering as guests, the US State Department said on Wednesday.

 

Blinken’s Southeast Asia tour follows a trip to Cambodia and Indonesia by State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet that began on Wednesday.

 

Full story: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3159096/top-diplomat-antony-blinken-visit-indonesia-malaysia-and

 

-- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2021-12-10

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

Why is Aseannow putting up articles that are behind a paywall???  Not going to pay US$10 to read this article. 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Discussions will include the crisis in Myanmar, and ‘strengthening regional security infrastructure in response to PRC bullying in the South China Sea’

Well that's going to be an interesting 2 minutes.

Myanmar: No comment

China in the South China Sea: No comment.

From the below Thailand specific stuff:

Briefing on the Secretary’s Upcoming Travel to the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Hawaii

 

DECEMBER 8, 2021 https://www.state.gov/assistant-secretary-for-east-asian-and-pacific-affairs-daniel-j-kritenbrink-and-senior-official-for-international-organizational-affairs-erica-barks-ruggles-on-the-secretarys-upcoming-travel/

 

In Thailand, the Secretary will reaffirm our treaty alliance with Thailand.  He will advance climate policies and also discuss steps to achieve a sustainable post-pandemic economic recovery.  The Secretary will reiterate our support for Thailand’s upcoming 2022 APEC host year and discuss how we can advance our shared priorities in that context.  In meetings with Prime Minister Prayut and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don, the Secretary will highlight our shared principles, including the protection of human rights and revitalization of democracy at home and abroad.  The Secretary will also meet with Minister of Environment Varawut to discuss cooperation on leveraging new technologies that harness clean energy.

 

Is this the same Blinken that used the CIA and MI6 to change the government in Ukraine under Obama.

5 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

In meetings with Prime Minister Prayut and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don, the Secretary will highlight our shared principles, including the protection of human rights and revitalization of democracy at home and abroad.

????

 

That’s rich!

Interesting, I wonder if this guy has any more sense than old sleepy Joe? But at least this guy looks allot better than pant suit Hillary under Obama.

10 hours ago, John Drake said:

Why is Aseannow putting up articles that are behind a paywall???  Not going to pay US$10 to read this article. 

It isn't.

5 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Is this the same Blinken that used the CIA and MI6 to change the government in Ukraine under Obama.

Yes and it was a great job.

17 hours ago, Screaming said:

Interesting, I wonder if this guy has any more sense than old sleepy Joe? But at least this guy looks allot better than pant suit Hillary under Obama.

On the other hand Obama looked much better than denying donald, despite his cosmetics.

I look forward to hearing how his quarantine goes.

1 hour ago, Albert Zweistein said:

On the other hand Obama looked much better than denying donald, despite his cosmetics.

So you are in love.

20 hours ago, ozimoron said:

It isn't.

Maybe it was temporary.

But I could read the article too (if I fancy).