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View all search resultsBiden’s Southeast Asia trip reflects China’s growing influence: Experts
US president’s trip was perfectly timed, but not enough to fully win the Indo-Pacific over, observers say.
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Thailand’s Prayut Chan-O-Cha (left), Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (second left), United States President Joe Biden (center), Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen (second right) and Indonesia’s President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo pose for pictures during the ASEAN-US Summit as part of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Phnom Penh on Nov. 12. (AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)
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mid rampant insecurities over Chinese foreign policies in Southeast Asia, United States President Joe Biden’s week-long visit to the region was perfectly timed to Washington's advantage, experts say, while noting that concrete follow-ups would still be needed to secure a strong relationship between the two regions.
Biden’s showing up to both the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh and the Group of 20 Summit in Bali has been considered a “hallmark” attempt to advance Washington’s influence in the region, as it presented a relief to Southeast Asian countries concerned with China’s unprecedented power in the Indo-Pacific region.
Riza Noer Arfani, an international relations expert from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), said that while the visit may showcase the US’ commitment to the region, much work had to be done to ensure the relationship’s sustainability.
“The visit is an effective display of [Biden’s] seriousness in engaging with Southeast Asia. But what ASEAN leaders would be looking toward is the follow-up to these visits,” he told The Jakarta Post.
As both Washington and Beijing have been pulling all the stops to win the Indo-Pacific area over, the US-ASEAN relationship has transformed into being largely defined by China.
Dafri Agussalim, another UGM international relations expert, said more actions from Washington were expected. “The US commitment to building a good relationship with Southeast Asia has been emphasized by the visit. Statements will not suffice. A follow-up [would],” he said.
‘Crucially important’
