Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to make his international debut in Jakarta at the Southeast Asia forum that will include Vice President Kamala Harris while the region considers how to navigate an increasingly complicated geopolitical landscape.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo opened the Association of Southeast Asian Nation’s summit on Tuesday saying the region must not become a proxy for any power as the US and China compete for influence.
Asean leaders have expressed anxiety about the prospect of a conflict in Asia over Taiwan or in the South China Sea, and Jokowi acknowledged the need for the bloc to muster a “relevant tactical strategy.”
Li and Harris will be attending the summit along with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The US is seeking to reshape engagement with its regional allies into a security network that China says is meant to counter its rise.
Whether the leaders can make progress resolving any of these issues remains to be seen, particularly with President Joe Biden skipping the event in favor of a trip to India for the Group of 20, where his Russian and Chinese counterparts will be absent.
All times local
Li Highlights Strong Ties (8:40 a.m.)
The Chinese Premier heralded strong relations with Southeast Asia during a meeting with its leaders on Wednesday, saying cooperation “will be as firm as ever” so long as the relationship stays on the right path.
Trade topped $970 billion last year, more than double that of a year ago, he said. Despite tensions in the South China Sea, Li said both sides “have a relentless pursuit of peace” and they can “take real actions to preserve regional stability.”
Singapore PM Seeks Continued Asean Relevance (7:33 a.m.)
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged Asean to increase engagement with “external partners in an open and inclusive way.” In a Facebook post Wednesday, he said the Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific creates a platform to do so. He also sought to “ensure Asean’s continued relevance and competitiveness in a post-pandemic world.”
“This is a period of great geopolitical and economic uncertainty,” Lee said. “How Asean responds to today’s challenges will determine whether Asean centrality can hold in the years ahead.”
Harris Arrives in Jakarta (10:00 p.m)
Harris arrived Tuesday evening in Jakarta and will meet with Southeast Asian leaders later on Wednesday. Li, meanwhile, is expected to sit down with heads of Asean this morning.
The leaders are expected to address tensions in the disputed South China Sea as countries including the Philippines grow increasingly vocal over China’s incursions.
--With assistance from Ben Westcott, Isabel Reynolds, Chandra Asmara, Faris Mokhtar and Aradhana Aravindan.
(Adds Li’s remarks to Asean leaders.)
Author: Philip J. Heijmans