China-US Relations: Pompeo’s Five-Nation Tour Reveals How Much Beijing Influences American Foreign Policy

South China Morning Post

31 October 2020

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s five-nation Asian tour rebranded Washington’s ties with the region around the problem of China, signalling that Beijing has reshaped American diplomatic priorities, analysts say. Pompeo’s week-long trip to India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Indonesia and Vietnam sought to rally together nations troubled by China, with US military deals, and trade and investment promises. Dr Rajesh Basrur, a Visiting Professor at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies said the tour marked a shift in Washington’s long-term strategy to counter China’s rising influence in the Asia-Pacific. “During the Obama administration, the ‘pivot to Asia’ was more focused on the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. But under Trump, the US is extending this further west to the Indian Ocean,” he said.

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Last updated on 03/11/2020