U.S. Secretary of State Blinken Stands Against Coercion, Urges Unity in Southeast Asia Amidst Rising Tensions with China and Russia

In a show of solidarity, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged unity with Southeast Asian nations against coercion during a meeting with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta.

While not explicitly naming China, Blinken alluded to concerns over Beijing's actions in the region, emphasizing the importance of a free, open, prosperous, secure, connected, and resilient Indo-Pacific.

He stressed the need for countries to have the autonomy to choose their own paths and partners, while addressing problems through open dialogue rather than coercion.

Blinken also highlighted the importance of upholding freedom of navigation in the South and East China Seas and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Tensions have been rising between China and Southeast Asian nations over China's expansive claims in the South China Sea and escalating friction regarding Taiwan.

However, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi cautioned against turning ASEAN into a proxy battlefield, particularly in light of the ongoing Ukraine conflict involving Russia. Marsudi emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific region remaining free from global rivalries and urged countries to navigate their differences wisely, providing transparency in their actions.

Alongside the talks with ASEAN, Blinken held discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. During these discussions, Blinken expressed the United States' commitment to holding hackers accountable and urged China to improve ties and cease interfering in its affairs.

Wang, in turn, urged Washington to work together with China and provide transparency on its controversial policing pact with Solomon Islands. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also engaged in talks with Wang, with barbs traded between Tokyo and Beijing over the planned discharge of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Notably, Blinken did not meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as tensions between the U.S. and Russia continue to escalate over the conflict in Ukraine. The U.S. has increased military support to Ukraine, but this approach has caused unease among some developing nations, such as India and South Africa, which have refrained from fully supporting condemnation of Russia.

During the ASEAN talks, Blinken called for a just and lasting peace to Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine and urged more pressure to be exerted on the military regime in Myanmar, which has faced ongoing violence and a refusal to implement ASEAN's five-point peace plan.

The discussions at the ASEAN meetings have been dominated by the crisis in Myanmar, with the bloc refusing to invite the country's military junta, which seized power in February 2021. While some countries, like Thailand, have pursued engagement with the junta, ASEAN members stress the importance of pressuring the regime to end the violence and support a return to democratic governance.

Overall, the talks aimed to promote open communication and unity among ASEAN nations while addressing regional tensions and global rivalries.