President Biden visits Asia for the first time
US President Joe Biden on May 19 started his first Asia tour since taking office in early 2021 with the destination of two important allies South Korea and Japan.
The trip is intended to signal that the US does not forget its strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region despite being highly interested in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The main discussions of the upcoming summits are trade, supply chains, the Covid-19 pandemic and North Korea’s nuclear program. In addition, the US leader also used the trip to officially announce the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) initiative and seek support for this initiative.
The first stop is South Korea, where Joe Biden and President Yoon Suk-yeol of the host country are expected to meet on May 21. According to Yonhap news agency, the summit’s agenda includes items such as strengthening bilateral economic security, countering North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, and curbing China’s influence. Country. The North Korean issue is seen as a priority as Mr. Yoon, who took office last week, wants to seek stronger commitment from Washington to defend Seoul. The two leaders may also discuss establishing stable supply chains involving critical materials, such as semiconductors.
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio exchange at an event in Brussels – Belgium in March 2022 Photo: The New York Times
The IPEF initiative was also a notable content at the meeting. The Biden administration calls it a “new partnership” to promote high-standard trade, manage the digital economy, improve supply chains and boost investment in infrastructure. Jae Jeok Park, an expert at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, told the South China Morning Post that the Yoon administration will most likely “strongly support” the country’s Indo-Pacific strategy. America on the occasion of Mr. Biden’s visit.
After his visit to South Korea, Mr. Biden will travel to Japan to hold talks with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on May 23. At this meeting, according to Kyodo news agency, the two leaders will discuss efforts to strengthen the bilateral alliance and stabilize the supply of important resources. On this occasion, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is expected to announce its participation in the IPEF, as well as potentially convince the US to return to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
According to public broadcaster NHK, IPEF is expected to promote cooperation in creating stronger supply chains and invest in high-quality infrastructure. However, the IPEF does not aim to cut tax rates or give participants more access to the US market, although this is what Asian countries seek. According to Politico, not many details about this initiative have been announced yet, so Biden will face many challenges in convincing allies and partners to join.
A day later, also in Tokyo, Mr. Biden is scheduled to have a meeting with the remaining leaders of the Quartet group (including the US, Japan, Australia, India). The content of the discussion was the cooperation between members on Covid-19 vaccines, humanitarian assistance, infrastructure development, climate, space, cyber security, etc.
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday that US intelligence sources have revealed the possibility of North Korea testing a missile or nuclear or both “before, during, or after” Biden’s trip. . Analysts said such a development could overshadow the US leader’s trip. Despite the Biden administration’s pledge to break the deadlock in denuclearization talks with North Korea, no progress has been made so far. Instead, Pyongyang resumed missile testing. Notably, in March 2022, North Korea conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test for the first time in four years.
At the upcoming meeting, President Yoon will urge Mr. Biden to allow the redeployment of US tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea, according to Politico. Washington has so far rejected the idea. Instead, Biden will seek to reassure the South Korean leader by giving him the green light to request the deployment of more Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems to counter the threat posed by North Korea. The United States stationed tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula for many years before withdrawing them in 1991 to encourage Pyongyang to give up its then fledgling nuclear program.
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