May 13, 2022

US President Joe Biden intended to push ASEAN to spearhead the US' China containment policy in Southeast Asia at Friday's summit following his newly announced $150 million aid to maritime security cooperation in the South China Sea, Chinese analysts said, noting that neither the grandiose aid nor Biden's talk would be able to tie ASEAN to the US' chariot against China. 

Analysts said that as the US-proposed infrastructure assistance, economic cooperation and maritime security training fall short of ASEAN's expectations and pragmatic needs, and its pressure on the region over the Ukraine crisis and China runs counter to ASEAN's fundamental interests, the joint statement expected to be released after the summit with the same old tune was only symbolic without any pragmatic significance. 

On Friday, eight ASEAN leaders are scheduled to meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris, climate envoy John Kerry and other officials to discuss health, pandemic recovery, climate action and sustainable infrastructure before meeting with Biden at the White House in the afternoon. According to US officials and media, the group will discuss trade, South China Sea and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

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