Biden Administration Affirms China's Continued Importance with High-Level Asia Visit Amidst Israel-Hamas Conflict
Biden administration officials prioritize Asia amid Israel-Hamas conflict, underscoring their commitment to managing both the Middle East and China with strategic focus
The senior-most national security officials of the Biden administration are heading to the Indo-Pacific this week, highlighting the administration's continued focus on its China strategy while dealing with the growing instability in the Middle East. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown will be embarking on trips across the Indo-Pacific region to engage with partners and allies. This will be Brown's inaugural trip as chairman, having assumed the position in September.
Austin is set to embark on a 10-day journey to India, Indonesia, and South Korea starting this Wednesday. Similarly, Blinken recently took off on a 10-day excursion to Israel, Jordan, Turkey, South Korea, and Japan, with an additional visit to the West Bank to engage with Palestinian leaders.
Both Blinken and Austin will convene in India for a 2+2 Dialogue with their respective counterparts.
China has consistently been identified by US officials as the foremost competitor to the United States, described as "America's most significant geopolitical challenge" in the National Security Strategy released last year.
Over the past year and a half, relations between the US and China have deteriorated, fueled by specific incidents. These include the controversy surrounding Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August 2022, the transit of a Chinese spy balloon across US airspace earlier this year, and most recently, an incident where a Chinese fighter jet came dangerously close, within 10 feet, to a US Air Force B-52 bomber over the South China Sea. Ely Ratner, the top Pentagon official responsible for security in the Indo-Pacific, stated last month that the US has witnessed a noticeable increase in "coercive and risky" behavior by Chinese pilots towards US aircraft in the past two years, surpassing the occurrences of the entire previous decade in the East and South China seas.
US and Chinese officials were unable to make progress in talks until this summer when Blinken held a meeting with senior Chinese officials in Beijing. Unfortunately, military officials in the Pacific region have been unsuccessful in establishing communication with their Chinese counterparts.
According to Adm. John Aquilino, the commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, he has been consistently requesting to speak with his counterparts for the past two-and-a-half years. However, his requests have not been accepted thus far.
During the 10th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus in 2022, Austin had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart. It is uncertain if this will occur during this year's meeting in Indonesia. Li Shangfu, China's Defense Minister, was dismissed in October, two months after he vanished from public sight. When asked by CNN on Monday if Austin would be having any meetings with PRC officials during his trip, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder stated that he had no announcements to make.
Described as crucial for enhancing regional stability and emphasizing the ability of the US to prioritize multiple regions simultaneously, Austin's trip holds great significance. The official further mentioned that this visit has been planned for a considerable period. Echoing this sentiment, Daniel Kritenbrink, the Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, emphasized that the State Department maintains unwavering attention on the Indo-Pacific region.
"Maintaining peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region will continue to be pivotal, playing a crucial role in America's own peace, prosperity, and security in the years to come... The fact that the secretary is traveling to the region once again, despite the global challenges we face, further emphasizes this point," stated Kritenbrink.
This travel coincides with the Biden administration facing mounting scrutiny regarding its stance on Israel's conflict with Hamas, and ongoing attacks on US forces by Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria.
During a news conference on Friday, Secretary of State Blinken expressed his shock at the brutality of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, stating that it is nearly impossible for the human mind to comprehend. However, he emphasized that the US has consistently communicated its stance on Israel's efforts to counter Hamas, highlighting the importance of conducting the campaign in a just and lawful manner. He emphasized that this is crucial as failing to do so would only serve to benefit Hamas and other terrorist organizations.
Furthermore, as Blinken and Austin will maintain their involvement on developments in Gaza, as well as the ongoing situation in Iraq and Syria where US troops have been targeted at least 38 times as of Monday, their current travels aim to underscore that the US remains focused on its main objective.
Moreover, the travel plans of these esteemed officials coincide with the preparations being made at the White House for a forthcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled to take place later this month in San Francisco. Their previous encounter occurred in November 2022 during a three-hour discussion in Indonesia as part of the G20 Summit.
"Its going to be a constructive meeting," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "The presidents looking forward to it."
CNNs Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.
