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US defence chief to visit security partners Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam to show commitment to Southeast Asia
- Lloyd Austin’s trip comes as the Biden administration looks to reinforce Washington’s presence in the region amid a tussle for influence with China
- While this is seen as being a tough sell, there may be progress with the Duterte administration and an ‘improved’ Visiting Forces Agreement
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US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to visit the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam this weekend on his first trip to Southeast Asia, in a bid to reinforce Washington’s presence in the region – but while experts say this will be a tough sell, there is the possibility of progress on security with Manila.
“This is an effort by the Biden administration to show the region matters to the United States,” said Dr Renato de Castro, an international relations professor at De La Salle University in Manila.
He said there was a perception among countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that Washington had “ignored and neglected” the region, despite it being “one of the battlegrounds of their strategic competition”.
Southeast Asia has emerged as a key arena as the US and China tussle for influence amid an increasingly heated rivalry that extends across geopolitics, commerce and technology.
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Philippine fishermen claim continued Chinese harassment on South China Sea
Philippine fishermen claim continued Chinese harassment on South China Sea
Said Aaron Jed Rabena, research fellow at the Manila-based think tank Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress and a member of the Philippine Council for Foreign Relations: “The US is now working with allies and partners to offset China’s influence in Asean by countering the Belt and Road Initiative. It’s indicative of the US’ desire to strengthen alliances and security partnerships.”
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