Biden names envoy to Asean during summit

WASHINGTON, D.C.: United States President Joe Biden announced on Friday (Saturday in Manila) that he was nominating one of his top national security aides as ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a move aimed at underscoring his administration's commitment to the Pacific region.

Biden announced his decision to nominate Yohannes Abraham, chief of staff to the White House National Security Council, to serve as the US representative to the 10-country bloc as he wrapped up talks with its leaders, who gathered in Washington, D.C. for a two-day "special summit."

The US president's efforts to put greater emphasis on the region have been overtaken in recent months by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

With his nomination of an Asean ambassador — the US is currently represented by a chargé d'affaires — Biden sought to send the message that he's serious about recalibrating American foreign policy to have a greater focus on Asia and to strengthen the US' role as a counterweight to China's rapid rise in the region.

Biden described Abraham as one of his closest advisers.

"I'm a little concerned to send him because he knows how I think. He knows so much about me," Biden joked with the Asean leaders about Abraham. "But all kidding aside, I think you're going to find him completely knowledgeable, and he speaks for me and he speaks for my administration."

Abraham's nomination, which requires Senate confirmation, came after the White House announced on Thursday that Washington would commit more than $150 million for new projects to bolster Southeast Asia's climate, maritime and public health infrastructure.

Earlier on Friday, US Vice President Kamala Harris met with the Asean leaders and underscored that "the United States and Asean have shared a vision for this region, and together will guard against threats to international rules and norms."

That comment, during a session that focused in part on freedom of the seas, appeared to reference China's increasingly aggressive military actions in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) and beyond.

China has stepped up its military presence in the reputedly resource-rich sea in recent years, as well as in the East China Sea, where a dispute about uninhabited islets administered by Japan but claimed by China has been a long-simmering issue.

"We stand with our allies and partners in defending the maritime rules-based order, which includes freedom of navigation and international law," Harris declared.

Most threatening adversaryBiden has increased attention to improving relations with Pacific nations in his presidency, as he and top national security officials have made clear they see a rising China as the most threatening economic and national security adversary to the US.

In remarks to the leaders at the US State Department, the president said strengthening the US' relationship with Asean was "at the very heart" of his foreign policy strategy.

"An Indo-Pacific that is free and open, stable and prosperous, and resilient and secure is what we're all seeking," Biden said.

He spoke with Asean leaders in private about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a White House official said.

A post-summit joint statement issued by the US and Asean participants made no direct mention of Russia, adding that "with regard to Ukraine," the participants "reaffirm our respect for sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity."

Some Asean members — Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos — for years have depended on Russia for military hardware. With the exception of Singapore — the only member of the 10-member group to impose direct sanctions on Moscow — the alliance has avoided criticizing President Vladimir Putin or Russia's prosecution of the war.

Indonesia has been guarded in its public comments on the invasion, and the Philippines has made clear it won't impose sanctions against Russia. Thailand joined a United Nations vote against the invasion of Ukraine, but has maintained a position of neutrality in the war.

The Asean members whose leaders attended the summit are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The top leaders from another member, Myanmar, were not invited, while outgoing Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte dispatched Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to represent his government.

Myanmar's junta slammed Washington for the snub and for meeting with members of the "National Unity Government" (NUG) — dominated by legislators from the National League for Democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi, who they ousted in a coup in February 2021 — outside of the summit, and instead lauded its ties with China.

The US was "practicing double standards" by meeting with the NUG, which is working to overturn the coup and has been declared a "terrorist" organization by the junta, military spokesman Zaw Min Tun told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday.

"In the Asia-Pacific region, China is a powerful country. Our country is dealing with and having relations with powerful China and India," he said.

The East Asian country is a major ally of the junta and has refused to label the military's power grab a coup.

WITH AFP

Source: TheManila Times