Global Tensions: Joe Biden Promises to Work with ASEAN Countries to Make the Region “Free and Prosperous”

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Nov 13: The United States president Joe Biden promised to work with the south-east Asian countries to build a better future and build the region “free and prosperous” after Cambodia, the current chairman of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), called for unity and co-operate to solve differences peacefully.

The Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen opening the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh on Sunday referred to the current global tensions that was taking a toll on everyone and said it was in the world’s common interest to cooperate to solve differences peacefully.

Without singling out any nation by name, Hun Sen said he hoped leaders would embrace a “spirit of togetherness in upholding open and inclusive multilateralism, pragmatism and mutual respect in addressing the existential and strategic challenges we all face.”

“Many current challenges and tensions have been hindering our past hard-earned efforts to promote sustainable development and causing greater hardship to people’s lives,” he said as he opened the meeting, which is running in parallel to the ASEAN group’s main summit.

His comments came as the regional tensions remained high between the US and China over Taiwan and Beijing’s growing regional aspirations, and while the Russia invasion of Ukraine has disrupted global supply chains, causing rising energy and food prices far beyond Europe.

Participants at the conclave included the US president, the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as well as the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and others. It also comes just a day before the highly-anticipated meeting between Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sideline of the Group of 20 Summit in Bali.

Addressing the summit, Mr. Biden promised that the U.S. would work with ASEAN, telling leaders of the strategically vital coalition that “we’re going to build a better future that we all want to see” in the region where US rival China is also working to expand its influence.

He promised to collaborate to build a region that is “free and open, stable and prosperous, resilient and secure.” “I look forward to continuing our work together with ASEAN and with each one of you to deepen peace and prosperity throughout the region to resolve challenges from the South China Sea to Myanmar and to find innovative solutions to shared challenges,” Biden said, citing climate and health security among areas of collaboration.

Biden also referred to his trilateral meeting with the Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida and the South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol and said the US, Japan and South Korea were “more aligned than ever” on North Korea, which he added has continued its “provocative behaviour.” Biden called Japan and South Korea his country’s “critical allies” that share the United States’ concerns about North Korea’s missile tests.

South Korea’s President Yoon said the North’s recent provocations showed its regime’s “nature against humanitarianism”, while Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida said its actions were “unprecedented” and more provocations could be expected from Pyongyang. “This trilateral summit is timely given we are expecting further provocation,” Fumio Kishida said.

I look forward to strengthening the coordination between the US, South Korea, and Japan to respond firmly” to North Korea’s actions, Biden said and added that he also discussed with them expanding coordinated support for Ukraine in the war with Russia, maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and working towards “common goals of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Li Keqiang said amid a “turbulent” global security situation, “unilateralism and protectionism are surging, economic and financial risks are rising, and global development is confronted with unprecedented challenges.” As major economies in East Asia, Li said China, Japan and South Korea needed to “stay committed to promoting peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and beyond, and to improving the people’s wellbeing.”

Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, on a three-day visit to Cambodia, addressed the East Asia summit on Sunday. An official in the Ministry of External Affairs said that the Vice President’s address was a closed session.

Mr. Dhankhar is in Cambodia for his three-day visit. This year marks the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-India relations and is being celebrated as the ASEAN-India Friendship Year.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an international organisation that has 10 member countries in Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Apart from the ASEAN member states, the East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the US and Russia.

India and ASEAN countries vowed to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership and enhance cooperation against terrorism after Vice President Dhankhar addressed the India-ASEAN Summit. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is accompanying Mr. Dhankhar, who is leading the Indian delegation to the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 17th East Asia Summit here.

Mr. Dhankhar announced an additional contribution of $5 million to the ASEAN-India science and technology fund to enhance cooperation in sectors of public health, renewable energy and smart agriculture.

In a joint statement, ASEAN-India acknowledged the deep civilisational linkages, maritime connectivity, and cross-cultural exchanges between Southeast Asia and India which have grown stronger over the last 30 years, providing a strong foundation for ASEAN-India relations. India and ASEAN nations also declared to enhance cooperation in the digital economy through a series of regional capacity-building activities in digital transformation, digital trade, digital skills and innovation, as well as Hackathons.