Blinken touring Asia to "contain China" following G20

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Jul 2022 12:16

US Secretary of State is attempting to replenish relations between the US and its Asian allies after Trump gave the alliance some downtime under his administration.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, at the Thai Foreign Ministry in Bangkok to ink an agreement on July 10, 2022. (AFP)

The US and Thailand inked on Sunday a new agreement that sought to deepen their relations while Washington works on developing a framework to contain Chinese influence in Asia.

Earlier, on Saturday, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 meetings in Indonesia.

The next day, Blinken, alongside Thai FM Don Pramudwinai, vowed to push their partnership forward on topics such as climate change, as well as law enforcement and security cooperation.

Previously, China’s PM met with his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan-Ocha on Tuesday and engaged in intense diplomacy across Asia. Blinken sought to meet with the Thai PM in the coming days.

"We are taking the partnership between us fully into the 21st century," Blinken said, adding that Thailand is a significant ally "in a region that is shaping the trajectory of the century."

After having called off a regional tour when a COVID-19 case was discovered in the press corps that was accompanying him last year, Blinken postponed a trip to Thailand, the United States' longest ally in Asia.

The Biden administration has worked to strengthen connections with a region that had lost faith in American commitment during a time of what was viewed as neglect under Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump. China pushed for commercial unification and increased its influence at the time.

On Myanmar

According to the State Department, Blinken and Prayuth will discuss strengthening cooperation and the conflict in Myanmar.

As the two nations are ready to celebrate 190 years of diplomatic ties next year, the Thai foreign minister stated, "We have also established the groundwork for the next 190 years."

Since a coup last year, Myanmar's military has escalated pressure on ethnic minority armies but is seeing opposition on several fronts, notably from militia groups linked with the overthrown government.

Blinken met with Myanmar's young leaders earlier on Sunday in Bangkok, Thailand.

Blinken will stop in Tokyo after Thailand to express his condolences to the Japanese people following the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to the State Department.