Focus on Arts and Ecology

May 13, 2022 

This week, the United States pledged more than $150 million to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) at a special two-day summit in Washington DC.

The money will be used in new projects to bolster Southeast Asia's climate, maritime and public health infrastructure. Many experts believe that the United States is courting ASEAN countries to counter China's influence in the South Pacific. 

When commenting on a special summit between the U.S. and ASEAN nations, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China and the United States can share a common circle of friends.

In the first four months of this year, bilateral trade between the two sides reached nearly $290 billion, up 9.4 percent year on year and ASEAN remains China's largest trading partner, the spokesperson said.

In an Op-Ed published on CGTN.com this week, Ji Xianbai, an assistant professor at the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China, explains why he believes ASEAN countries need to be wary of U.S. policy.

Last week, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said another aspect of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy did not serve the interests of regional countries. In activating the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council – Wang said Washington has advocated an “outdated Cold War mentality.”

The “Five Eyes” are an intelligence-sharing group comprised of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the U.S.

(Sources: China Report)