Not asking Asia to take sides
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday insisted that Washington was not asking Southeast Asian nations to “choose” between his country and rival power China, as he trailed a rebooted security and trade strategy at a Bangkok summit.
The denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, a bitter trade war between the superpowers and open access to contested seas dominated talks between Pompeo and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a summit of Southeast Asia’s top diplomats.
Pompeo is in Bangkok tasked with reassuring Asian allies that the US remains a key player in the region, as China builds up its military presence in disputed seas and airspace and cements its economic and political primacy across the region.
The rivalry between the two superpowers is framed by a trade war that has cramped global growth and seeded uncertainty across Asia’s economies.
Pompeo and Wang shook hands and smiled before the brief talks.
Both later played down the rifts between their nations, with Wang describing the meeting as a “deep communication” that “has helped to increase our mutual understanding”.
In a tweet Pompeo said he had “an in-depth exchange of views” with Wang -- including on North Korea -- adding “when it advances US interests, we are ready to cooperate with China.”
Pompeo also insisted the US was not prodding Southeast Asian nations to “choose between countries”.
“Our engagement in this region has not been and will not be a zero-sum exercise,” he said in short remarks at the opening of a meeting with the 10-member Asean states.
On Wednesday Wang described Southeast Asia as China’s “neighbourhood” and in a barely concealed swipe at the US urged “non-regional countries” to not “sow distrust” in the area.
Meanwhile, South Korea yesterday warned Japan that it would be forced to review security cooperation between the two key US allies if Tokyo pushes ahead with plans to remove Seoul from its “white list” of trusted trade partners.
The squabble between the East Asian neighbours follows a decades-long quarrel over Japanese forced labour during World War II.
Japan last month unveiled tough restrictions on exports of chemicals vital to Seoul’s world-leading chip and smartphone industry.
Tokyo has also said it will remove South Korea from its preferential trade status as early as Friday (today), a move that could affect hundreds of key items imported to the South and punch a hole in its economy.
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