WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Vietnam later this week in a bid to strengthen ties with the Southeast Asian nation as tensions continue to flare in the region.
Blinken’s visit comes amid growing concerns over China’s assertiveness towards Taiwan, as well as its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
The State Department announced on Monday that Blinken would travel to Hanoi on his way to the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers’ meeting in the Japanese resort town of Karuizawa.
During his visit to Vietnam, Blinken is expected to discuss “our shared vision of a connected, prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Indo-Pacific region.”
The United States has been steadily building its relationship with Vietnam, including on defense issues, despite lingering tensions from the Vietnam War. Vietnam has its own longstanding tensions with China, which has been increasingly assertive in the region in recent years.
China’s latest military drills around Taiwan, which were completed on Monday, have added to concerns about Beijing’s intentions towards the self-governing island.
Taiwan’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, recently traveled to the United States, prompting further displays of military force from China.
Blinken’s visit to Vietnam will be his first since becoming secretary of state. Vice President Kamala Harris previously visited the country.
Before arriving in Vietnam, Blinken will travel with President Joe Biden to Ireland, including Northern Ireland.
Blinken to meet his counterpart from Philippines
In addition to his visit to Vietnam, Blinken will also meet with his counterparts from the Philippines on Tuesday alongside Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The Philippines, a former US colony, has agreed to strengthen military ties with the United States.
The visits to Vietnam and the Philippines come as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to bolster US engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and to counter China’s growing influence.
In addition to its military assertiveness, China has been accused of engaging in economic coercion and human rights abuses in the region.
Blinken’s visit to Vietnam and Japan will also be closely watched for any indications of the Biden administration’s approach to North Korea, which has recently conducted a series of missile tests.
The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Japan will provide an opportunity for Blinken to consult with key US allies on a range of issues, including climate change, COVID-19, and geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
