Leaders from ASEAN will meet in Phnom Penh from Friday, kicking off a diplomatic blitz in the region that also takes in next week's Group of 20 (G20) in Bali and an APEC summit in Bangkok.

Biden's administration has identified China as the only global rival to the US, saying Beijing is attempting to remold the world order in "its own authoritarian model".

Making his second trip to Asia this year off the back of bruising midterm elections at home, Biden faces another tough battle to woo ASEAN leaders, many of whom are wary of overtly taking sides against a giant neighbor and key trading partner.

A senior US official said Biden would push the importance of peace in the region, including Taiwan, and respect for the "rules-based international order".

An ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in August was dominated by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan and the furious response from Beijing, which claims the self-governing island as part of its territory.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stole a diplomatic march on Biden on Tuesday, arriving in Phnom Penh for talks with Cambodian leader Hun Sen.

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