Blinken, Austin to Tour Indo-Pacific, Reiterate US Commitment to Region

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) speaks as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (2nd R) watches during the India–U.S. "2+2" ministerial dialogue at Sushma Swaraj Bhavan in New Delhi, India, on Nov. 10, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/AFP via Getty Images)

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have announced plans to tour the Indo-Pacific region this week, to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to allies and partners in the region.

Mr. Blinken will depart for Asia on July 24, with planned stops in Vietnam, Laos, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters at a press briefing on July 22.

The Pentagon said Mr. Austin will depart on July 26 and join Mr. Blinken for the Japan and Philippines portions of the trip, before returning to the United States.

Mr. Blinken will focus on growing the U.S.–Vietnamese strategic partnership during his visit to Hanoi, the State Department spokesman said. He will continue to build on U.S. relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Laos, attending ASEAN–U.S. partnership and Mekong–U.S. partnership meetings.

The secretary of state plans to discuss economic development in the region, efforts to address climate change, and the civil war in Burma (also known as Myanmar).

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will join Mr. Blinken in Japan for a dialogue with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko. Mr. Austin and Mr. Kihara also will meet with South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik to discuss security cooperation among the three nations.

Japan's Defense Minister Minoru Kihara (L), U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (C), and South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik (R) in Singapore on June 2, 2024. (Caroline Chia/AFP via Getty Images)

Mr. Blinken and Mr. Austin will next meet with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, where Mr. Miller said the four will discuss a “shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and support for adherence to international law in maritime domains.”

The visit to Manila follows recent tension with the Chinese Communist Party, after Chinese coast guard sailors attempted to stop a Philippine vessel from resupplying sailors staking out the Philippines’ claim over the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

The secretary of state will part ways with the defense secretary and continue to Singapore, where he will meet with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, senior minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. Mr. Blinken plans to discuss security, economic, climate, and technology objectives with the Singaporean leaders.

Lastly, in Mongolia, Mr. Miller said the secretary of state will discuss the country’s security, and expanding economic ties with the United States.

Mr. Miller said the leaders will highlight new professional and educational exchanges, English language programs in Mongolia, and plans for direct flights between the two countries.

After the Philippines, Mr. Austin plans to return to the United States, to host Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Penny Wong in Annapolis, Maryland, on Aug. 6.

“Secretary Austin will engage counterparts from four U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific as the Department of Defense continues to strengthen U.S. relationships with regional allies and partners in support of a shared vision for peace, stability, and deterrence,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

‘Full Speed Ahead’ on Diplomacy: Miller

The Indo-Pacific diplomatic tour was announced just after President Joe Biden said he is ending his 2024 reelection bid.

Mr. Miller said there was no talk of altering Mr. Blinken’s Indo-Pacific travel plans following the president’s campaign decision. The department spokesman said the secretary of state had instead relayed to his senior leadership team that the president called on them to continue their foreign policy efforts undeterred.

“The president made clear that he is focused on all the work that we’re doing, the administration is doing broadly ... that we in the national security space are doing and he wants that work to continue full steam ahead over the next six months,” Mr. Miller said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens as President Joe Biden speaks during a conference call on Sept. 17, 2021, in Washington. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

President Biden has said he intends to serve out the remainder of his term and his administration will continue carrying on with his policies, while Vice President Kamala Harris works to secure her party’s nomination.

“We do think it is important that everyone in the department hear loud and clear that the work that we have been engaged in over the course of the past three and a half years remains a high priority and that everyone should remain focused on getting that work done,” Mr. Miller added.

The Biden administration is currently balancing its attention across multiple foreign policy fronts, building on Indo-Pacific partnerships to counter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), while also supporting Ukraine’s war with Russia and Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Last week, Mr. Blinken reported that negotiators are nearing completion of a cease-fire and hostage release deal that could halt the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan announced on July 19 that President Biden expects to meet with Israeli Prime Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the negotiations when the Israeli leader visits the United States this week.

The White House didn’t respond by publication time to a request by The Epoch Times for more details.