Blinken calls on China to stop “aggressive actions”

Antony Blinken is on his first visit to Southeast Asia as Secretary of State, embarking on his one-stop trip to Indonesia.

Indonesia is a “heavyweight” country in a critical region, says Brian Harding of the American Institute of Peace.

“It is clear that Southeast Asia is at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region, a region of the world where US-China strategic competition has intensified. But there are many other reasons that increase US interest in Southeast Asia, a region of 650 million people and a $ 3 trillion economy. “So Secretary Blinken’s decision to travel to Indonesia first is the right thing to do.” he says.

Freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is a key issue of Secretary Blinken’s visit to a region where, according to him, China’s actions threaten the circulation of goods worth $ 3 trillion a year.

“That’s why there is so much concern, from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and the Mekong River in the Pacific Islands, about Beijing’s aggressive actions. They claim international waters as their own, influence open markets by subsidizing their state-owned companies, block exports or withdraw from agreements with countries whose policies they do not agree with. Engage in illegal fishing activities. “Countries in this region and the United States want this behavior to change.” he said.

China was quick to respond to Mr Blinken’s criticism.

“I want to emphasize that the United States, on the one hand, is dramatically talking about the so-called ‘China threat’, while, on the other hand, they claim that they have no intention of starting a conflict with China. “This contradictory practice is not in line with the spirit of the (last) meeting between our two heads of state and will be met with difficulties in trying to find support in the countries of the region.” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin.

Confrontations with Chinese ships are frequent in the disputed South China Sea. Secretary Blinken made it clear that the United States wants to ensure that people and countries in the region have the freedom to decide on the future and their partners, says expert Brian Harding.

“Southeast Asian countries do not want to choose between the United States and China, or any of the other partners. It is clear that the United States, China, as well as Japan, India and Australia are important factors for these countries and trying to force them to choose between them is a bad policy. “But a clear explanation of what the United States has to offer is a good policy, and that’s what he did.” says expert Brian Harding.

During this trip, Secretary Blinken will also visit Malaysia and Thailand, where the impact of the military coup in Myanmar is likely to be a key issue./VOA

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