Biden's efforts at this year's ASEAN summit are meant to lay the groundwork for his highly anticipated face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday.
From the Philippines to Singapore, countries are worried the status quo could turn from tension to conflict. Southeast Asia especially feels the strain of living in the shadow of U.S.-China rivalry.
The Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach helped put Maya Bay on the "must see" list of every visitor to Thailand. But that proved too much for its delicate ecosystem. The pandemic helped change that.
The Biden administration hopes to make deeper inroads in Southeast Asia but lags far behind China, which has already built up major trade ties, as well as roads and a high-speed rail.
The vice president made the announcement during her trip to Southeast Asia. It's part of the Biden administration's push to strengthen its alliances in the region to counter China's influence
The decision was announced Friday in Manila by Philippines Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana and U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin. U.S. military presence in the region is seen as a counterbalance to China.
The country had been seen as a success in handling the pandemic, but a recent surge in cases has made it the third-worst affected country in Southeast Asia. Vietnam is also seeing a rise in cases.
