Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink on the Secretary's Upcoming Travel to Laos, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia
US Department of State
Special Briefing
Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Via Teleconference
July 22, 2024
MR PATEL: All right, everybody, good morning and thanks so much for joining us. This is a preview call previewing Secretary Blinken's upcoming trip to Asia and the Indo-Pacific. This call will be on the record but under embargo until 1 PM Eastern Time. Our speaker today is Assistant Secretary Dan Kritenbrink, who has some remarks he'd like to make at the top, and then of course we will have some time for some questions. So with that, let me turn it over to Assistant Secretary Kritenbrink. Sir, over to you.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Vedant, thank you very much for that introduction, and good morning, everyone. Really delighted to be on this call with you here today. And Vedant, thanks for the note as well about the fact that we'll embargo our conversation here until 1 PM today. It really is great to be here to speak with our friends in the media about Secretary Blinken's upcoming travel to the region, which will include stops in Laos, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia. I plan here today to talk a little bit about the overall purpose of the Secretary's trip to our region. Then I'll dive into brief previews of each stop. And finally, most importantly, I look forward to taking your questions.
Let me start off by reiterating a simple fact. The United States is a proud Indo-Pacific nation. As the most dynamic and fastest growing region on Earth, the Indo-Pacific is an essential driver of America's future security and prosperity. The Indo-Pacific is also home to more than half the world's population and accounts for 60 percent of global GDP as well as two thirds of global economic growth. Given our priorities in the region, we place enormous value on our Indo-Pacific partners and allies, with whom we work every day to facilitate our shared vision of a region that is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. And since day one of the Biden-Harris administration, we've prioritized creating a latticework of mutually reinforcing relationships to tackle today's greatest challenges and find new opportunities to deliver for all of our people.
The Secretary's trip to the region, which is really just the latest example of his and this administration's commitment, will serve to deepen our bilateral relationships and will continue the unprecedented expansion of our ties with ASEAN. Under the Biden-Harris administration, we have elevated our relationship with ASEAN to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This upgrade with ASEAN was in addition to our historic elevation to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership relationships with both Vietnam and Indonesia. We have also elevated our strategic partnership with Singapore to unprecedented heights. Over the past three years, we have seen President Biden and Vice President Harris visit a total of six countries in Southeast Asia alone, including Singapore, and we've also had multiple visits by a range of U.S. cabinet-level officials as well as more than 100 individuals, members of Congress from both parties.
Apart from our engagement with ASEAN and Southeast Asian partners, this trip is also an opportunity to highlight the unprecedented work we've done to strengthen relationships with our treaty allies in the Indo-Pacific. In this case on this trip, we'll particularly highlight, of course, Japan and the Philippines. It's clear that our alliances with both have never been stronger. The Secretary's trip also aims to further demonstrate the dramatic strengthening of our relationships with Quad partners - of course, Australia, India, and Japan - and demonstrate that the Quad is delivering for the peoples of the region. And we're proud that the Secretary's trip to Ulaanbaatar will be the first foreign-minister-level visit to Mongolia since the formation of Mongolia's new government and will serve as a celebration of our strategic partnership.
So with that topline framing, let me discuss briefly what we're hoping to accomplish at each stop. First, in Vientiane Secretary Blinken will participate in the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, including the ASEAN-U.S. foreign ministerial, East Asia Summit, and the ASEAN Regional Forum. The Secretary will also co-chair the ASEAN-U.S. and Mekong-U.S. Partnership foreign ministers meetings. During each gathering, the Secretary will emphasize our steadfast support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
We look forward to discussing pressing topics, including enhancing our economic cooperation, combating the climate crisis, addressing the ongoing crisis in Burma, strengthening our cooperation with our partners in the Mekong sub-region, promoting adherence to international law in the South China Sea, and speaking out against Russia's illegal war against Ukraine. Secretary Blinken will also engage with senior Lao PDR officials to reaffirm the United States support for Laos's ASEAN chair year and its theme of enhancing connectivity and resilience while further strengthening the U.S.-Laos bilateral comprehensive partnership.
Turning to Tokyo, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin will build on the success of Prime Minister Kishida's historic official visit to Washington in April by focusing on implementation of key outcomes from the prime minister's visit. They will meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Japanese Defense Minister Kihara for a foreign and defense ministerial 2+2 dialogue. Together the four officials will reaffirm the critical importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance in addressing a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, and continue to build on the momentum of U.S.-Japan-ROK and U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral cooperation. Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin will also hold an extended deterrence ministerial meeting with Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Defense Minister Kihara. There, the officials will discuss bilateral cooperation to further strengthen U.S. extended deterrence bolstered by Japan's defense capabilities.
And finally in Tokyo, Secretary Blinken will also join his Australian, Indian, and Japanese counterparts for a Quad foreign ministers meeting, during which the officials will discuss how our four nations can continue to deliver concrete benefits for the Indo-Pacific region.
In Manila, Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin will meet with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Manalo and Philippine National Defense Secretary Teodoro for a 2+2 ministerial dialogue, the first U.S.-Philippines 2+2 to be held in Manila. The officials will reaffirm our nations' shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and support for adherence to international law in maritime domains. They will discuss ways to deepen coordination on shared challenges, including in the South China Sea, while also advancing our critically important bilateral economic agenda. Secretaries Blinken and Austin will also meet with President Marcos to explore additional ways to capitalize on the unprecedented momentum in the U.S.-Philippines alliance.
In Singapore, Secretary Blinken will meet with Prime Minister Wong, Senior Minister Lee, and Foreign Minister Balakrishnan to review the growth of our bilateral cooperation with this pivotal regional partner on shared security, economic climate, and technology objectives. The Secretary will co-chair the second round of the U.S.-Singapore Critical and Emerging Technologies Dialogue, where the two sides will discuss how to reduce barriers to innovation and increase collaboration while still protecting national security. The growing bilateral discussion regarding critical and emerging technologies further underscores the importance of the U.S.-Singapore Strategic Partnership in facilitating a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
And on the final stop in Mongolia, the Secretary will meet Foreign Minister Battsetseg to continue the momentum from the first-ever U.S.-Mongolia Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue, which the Secretary and Deputy Secretary will host here in Washington on July 23. That's just tomorrow. The two will hold in-depth discussions on our countries' growing relationship as demonstrated by ongoing initiatives to bolster our people-to-people ties through professional and educational exchanges, English-language programs, and establishing direct flights between our two countries. As a proud third neighbor of Mongolia, we look forward to renewing and strengthening our ties with this fellow democracy.
So as I hope I've made clear, we have a lot of work to look forward to in the week ahead of us, but let me reiterate the Secretary's trip is a clear demonstration of the United States continued commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, the most dynamic and fastest-growing region on Earth. It's also a clear sign of our enduring commitment to our allies and partners across the region. We're deepening our bilateral relationships, we're expanding our allied and partner relationships, which have reached unprecedented heights, and we are creating a latticework of mutually reinforcing partnerships together. Every day, we're facilitating a free and open Indo-Pacific and one that is prepared to tackle today's greatest challenges and find new opportunities to deliver for all our people.
Sorry for going on so long, but I think, as you can see, it's quite a substantial trip. Again, I'll reiterate we're really looking forward to a productive and successful trip, and we'll share additional details on the Secretary's itinerary along the way as we get closer to every stop.
Vedant, why don't I kick it back to you, and I'm very much looking forward to taking your questions. Over.
MR PATEL: Thanks, sir. So if you have a question, please use the "raise hand" function, and we'll get to as many people as we can. Please wait a moment once you're unmuted before you dive right into your question just so none of it gets lost in the muting and unmuting.
So first, let's go to Matt Lee with the Associated Press. Matt, go ahead.
QUESTION: Okay. Well, I'm just trying to make sure that you can hear me. Am I unmuted?
MR PATEL: Yeah, you're good. We can hear you.
QUESTION: Oh, okay. All right.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Loud and clear, Matt.
QUESTION: Okay, great. Thanks, Dan. So I have a couple things and I don't think that you're going to be able to answer any of them to - but I'm going to ask them anyway.
One, you did not mention the possibility of a stop before Laos. Is that off now? Is that not happening?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: I'm sorry, Matt. What are you referring to?
QUESTION: I'm referring to a funeral in a certain country that you used to be the ambassador to. Is that not happening?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Yeah, Matt, here's what I would say. I think you saw the President's statement expressing our sincere condolences regarding the passing of the general secretary who was really a champion of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, but - and we're very saddened by that news, but I don't have anything to announce (inaudible).
QUESTION: All right. Secondly - I can't say I'm surprised at that answer. Secondly, the Secretary said on Friday in Aspen that he would be, quote/unquote, "seeing Wang Yi," or he said the Chinese - or his Chinese counterpart in Laos next week. Is that an actual meeting? Because - and - because if it's not, I mean, he could have just as easily said the same thing about Lavrov or any other foreign minister who's going to be at the ARF. So is that on, an actual separate bilat for Wang Yi?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Yeah, Matt - no, I appreciate - look, you saw the Secretary's comment. Certainly, I think it speaks for itself. You'll have seen, Matt, over the last couple of years, longstanding precedent for the Secretary to meet with a number of counterparts, including his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, when he travels to these - when he travels to the region, especially for these multilateral events. We do anticipate that he'll have an opportunity to engage with Wang Yi and we'll have more details to announce on that as we get closer to the stop.
QUESTION: Okay. That's it. Thank you.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Thank you, Matt.
MR PATEL: And before we dive in, I just want to echo that, of course, as it relates to scheduling and the exact schedule and programming, everything is, of course, subject to change, and we will have more to share as the trip progresses and we get closer to wheels-up.
Next let's go to David Brunnstrom with Reuters. Go ahead, David.
QUESTION: Hi and thank you very much for taking my question. I'm just wondering if you can tell us what we can expect the Secretary to tell allies about future U.S. foreign policy and whether there are going to be any changes in the light of the decision of President Biden not to stand again. Also wondering if you could tell us your thoughts about the agreement between the Philippines and China over Second Thomas Shoal. Was this something that the U.S. advised the Philippines to go ahead with?
And one final thing on - seeing as Vietnam came up, obviously there's a decision due this week about Vietnam's market economy status. Can you shed any light on that, especially given the change in leadership in Vietnam that's going to come up? How important is it going to be keep Vietnam on side?
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: David, hey, thanks very much. Good to hear from you. Great questions all. Look, I think that - I think the message that the Secretary is going to be conveying to the region is that America is all in on the Indo-Pacific. I think from day one of this administration we have significantly and dramatically stepped up our engagement. We've strengthened our allied and partner relationships across the region, including with many of the partners with whom we'll be engaging on this trip. And I think that engagement has been welcomed and valued by our allies and partners and certainly that will be the Secretary's message going forward. The United States has been an Indo-Pacific power for more than a century and will remain so going forward. So I think that message will come through loud and clear.
Secondly, David, you asked about the announcement we saw yesterday about a diplomatic agreement between the Philippines and China regarding the Second Thomas Shoal situation. I guess what I would say here, David, is - look, we do welcome the announcement. We welcome the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea. This is a Philippines sovereign matter. The Philippines has - has had the lead on all of the issues related to Second Thomas Shoal and the diplomacy that the Philippines conducted with the PRC. But our role has been to continue to support our Filipino allies. It has been to continue to speak out in support of international law, respect for international law, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the maintenance of the status quo at Second Thomas Shoal, which has obtained since 1999. So I'd refer you to our friends at the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs to speak on any of the details, but those would be the toplines that I would offer.
And I think, David, it goes without saying - I do want to reiterate - in addition to our strong support for respect for international law, freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, peaceful resolution of disputes, I do want to underscore yet again America's ironclad commitments to our Filipino allies under the Mutual Defense Treaty.
Your final question, David, was on Vietnam. Look, I think the wisest response for me at this point would be to say on the market economy status issue this is a Department of Commerce matter. They have been examining quite carefully for some time under U.S. law and regulation Vietnam's status, and I'll refer you to them for any developments there. Thank you, David.
MR PATEL: Thanks so much. Let's next go to Michael Gordon. Go ahead, Michael.
QUESTION: Thank you. One-and-a-half questions. I believe the meeting on extended deterrence in Japan is the first time this has been held at the foreign minister level. Could you please explain a little more what the significance and substance of this meeting is? I know extended deterrence is a very sensitive issue in the South Korean context, but perhaps less so in the Japanese context.
And second, can you say a little more about what you hope to accomplish in the Tokyo two by two meeting given the evolving security relationship between Japan and the United States? Thank you.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Michael, thanks very much. Really, really great questions. Look, I think the overall objective, of course, through the 2+2 is to underscore, I think, the fact that our security treaty alliance with Japan has never been stronger. But we're also going of course, Michael, into this 2+2 with the intent of following up in pretty detailed terms some of the outcomes from Prime Minister Kishida's very successful official visit and state dinner here in Washington, D.C. in April. And I think you saw in the course of that visit a number of outcomes related to further upgrading our security alliance in the face of really growing and unprecedented threats in the region.
So there'll be discussion about command and control. There'll be discussions about our roles, missions, and capabilities; how the alliance is postured to meet those challenges and continue to deliver peace and security and stability to the region. I think I would argue, Michael, that not only is the U.S.-Japan alliance stronger than it's ever been before, but it's playing a larger role regionally and globally than it ever has before. So that will be the primary focus. And I think you'll see - in some of the statements and outcomes from the 2+2, I think you'll see that we're going to advance in a detailed way our objectives across those issues.
On the extended deterrence dialogue, yes, my understanding too - this will be the first time to do this at the ministerial level. It does build on a longstanding dialogue that we've had on extended deterrence. And I think the message here, Michael, is - again, it's what I said a moment ago: In the face of growing unprecedented threats in the region, the United States and Japan are going to demonstrate in a responsible way how we will stand up and ensure not just the defense of Japan but also our contribution to regional security. And I think it's important in the face of those threats to reiterate what we've said many times, that our security treaty commitments to our Japanese allies are ironclad and we're committed to using all means at America's disposal, including nuclear, to make sure that we meet those commitments. And I hope that that answers your question both on the 2+2 and extended deterrence. Thanks very much.
MR PATEL: Let's next go to the line of Nike Ching with Voice of America. Nike.
QUESTION: Hello, can you hear me?
MR PATEL: Yep, go ahead.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Loud and clear.
QUESTION: Thank you. (Laughter.) Thank you. Good morning, Dan and Vedant. Thank you so much for the call, briefing. First I would like to follow up on the agreement between China and the Philippines. Did the U.S. receive a debrief on the text of the agreement or will the U.S. receive one?
And then secondly, are you aware of any attendance by North Korean officials at ASEAN-related meetings in Vientiane, and can you - can we rule in or rule out any interaction between Secretary Blinken and North Korean officials? And is there evidence that North Korea has received assistance from Russia in its nuclear and long-range missile programs?
And finally, on Myanmar, can you talk about Myanmar's or Burma's representation at the ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings? Is it the same person who attended the January retreat? And can you please also comment on a letter endorsed by more than 300 civil society organizations and revolutionary forces that calls on ASEAN to exclude military junta members from its meetings? The letter also urges ASEAN to ensure Myanmar is represented by its democratically elected leaders. Thank you so much.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Nike, my friend, good to hear from you. I'm tracking at least five questions. Let me see if I can respond to each.
So your first question is on the agreement announced yesterday between the Philippines and the PRC on Second Thomas Shoal. I'll reiterate what I said a little bit earlier to David: Our position has been to strongly support our Filipino allies as they have worked to maintain and resupply the Sierra Madre, as they've done since 1999, but the Philippines is in the lead and has been in the lead, and that's clearly - this is their sovereign matter and that's been their stated preference.
As the Philippines' ally, we do support the diplomacy that they've chosen to conduct. We welcome the announcement of this outcome. I think the key now from our vantage would be to ensure that it is implemented, number one, and number two, that China ceases its provocative and destabilizing activities around Second Thomas Shoal that we've seen in recent weeks. But I think - and I think I'd refer you to friends in Manila for details on the agreement.
Your second question is whether we anticipate attendance by DPRK at the ASEAN meetings. Look, Nike, I think as you're aware, North Korea is a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum. I would expect that there will be a North Korean representative at the ARF ministerial, as there always is. Certainly, when I was out for the ASEAN Regional Forum senior officials' meeting a few weeks ago, there was a North Korean representative there. I don't know off the top of my head who that official may or may not be, but we do anticipate someone will be there.
I do not anticipate a meeting between the Secretary and whoever that representative will be, but I will reiterate, Nike, despite the provocative and escalatory steps that North Korea has taken, we continue to reiterate that the door to dialogue remains open. Unfortunately, of course, North Korea has never taken advantage of that. They have simply continued to take a number of escalatory steps, and in response to that, the United States has had no choice but to really double down on our deterrent measures, the - our commitment to our South Korean and Japanese allies, and our commitment to continuing to resolutely implement a range of sanction measures against North Korea.
Your third question, Nike, I think was any evidence on Russian assistance to the North Korean nuclear and missile programs. I guess what I would say here, Nike, is we're deeply concerned by the cooperation that we see taking place between Moscow and Pyongyang, this nexus that has developed which we think is destabilizing both for Europe and for Asia. We've seen North Korea providing weapons and other material to Russia that's been used on the battlefield and that's been used to kill Ukrainians. And then of course we've seen the recent activity, the recent support provided by Russia to the DPRK.
I don't have anything to say on details. What I will say is that we will continue as we've done in recent weeks to take a series of measures, including sanction measures, to do everything possible to disrupt that support, and why don't I stop there on that.
Your final questions were on Burma. Nike, it's now more than three years since the really tragic and completely unacceptable coup d'etat in Burma. Our approach all along has been to continue to increase pressure to hold to account the junta leaders in Myanmar. But we also strongly support our partners in ASEAN and in particular strongly support the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. We have continued from day one as well to make clear that while Burma remains of course a member of ASEAN, that we believe that any Burmese representation in the ASEAN meeting should be at a downgraded non-political level.
And that is what you will see in this coming week. My understanding is there will be a representative from Burma. It will be at the permanent secretary non-political level. There is certainly precedent for having done so. This has been our position all along, and we are - we are supportive of ASEAN having made this arrangement, again, to ensure that any Burmese representation is at a non-political level.
On the letter you reference, I'm certainly familiar with that. I would just say, again, I think we've made clear our position on Burma. We've made clear that we have implemented really an unprecedented number of sanctions and other measures designed to pressure the regime and cut off its ability to acquire the funds necessary to continue to prosecute the atrocities and other actions that it has carried out, and we'll continue to do so. But I also want to underscore I think we've spent probably even more time and effort in engaging the democratic opposition, various Burmese-related groups inside and outside of Burma, and our commitment to those groups will continue going forward as well.
I hope that answers all of your questions. Thank you, Nike.
MR PATEL: We've got time for one more question. Let's go to Ed Wong with The New York Times. Go ahead, Ed.
QUESTION: Thanks a lot, Dan, and thanks, Vedant. I wanted to go back to your earlier statements about reassuring the allies. David asked it in the context of Biden stepping aside as a candidate. I wanted to probe deeper. Obviously, there's a chance Trump could be the president after next January. We know for a fact that allies in Europe and Asia are very concerned about that because of Trump's statements on alliances and his very transactional approach to that. The - in his first term, that he talked about withdrawing U.S. troops from some of the regions in Asia. And more recently, he's made these very transactional statements about Taiwan and saying Taiwan has to pay and it hasn't given the U.S. anything, which obviously sends a signal to Beijing too, and as well as to the allies in the region.
So I'm just wondering, go beyond the statements you made earlier about assurances and the U.S. being a Pacific power for a century. I want you to go deeper and tell me how you're actually concretely going to reassure allies about continued U.S. presence and working in their interests if Trump becomes president. Thank you.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY KRITENBRINK: Ed, nice to hear from you. Thanks very much for your question. Let me make a few topline comments and then see if Vedant wants to chime in as well.
I guess what I would say, Ed, is - look, I'll reiterate what I said earlier. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved in this administration in terms of our demonstrated commitment to the region - particularly to our allies, partners, and friends - to the region's institutional architecture, and really the unprecedented upgrade of our investments in the region and our relationships with partners across Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands as well. So very proud of that. I think, again, I've never seen a stronger demand signal for American engagement across the region. We're confident we've met that moment and we'll continue to do so going forward.
As far as reassuring allies, I would just say, again, we're going to continue to do everything possible to demonstrate that commitment in coming months. But Ed, when I mentioned earlier that America's been an Indo-Pacific power for more than a century, I would just say we're also a proud democracy, we're transparent, we're in the middle of conducting this campaign season - this presidential campaign. I'm not going to comment on any specific remarks that are made in the context of the campaign. But we do try to reassure allies and partners that there are certain fundamentals I think about America's engagement that are not going to change, that have been consistent, such as $2 trillion in trade between the United States and the region annually; a trillion dollars of American investment in the region, and nearly a trillion dollars of regional investment. In the United States, there is strong bipartisan support on Capitol Hill for our allies and partners and our approach to the region.
And so I think both underscoring, I think, the tremendous successes of the last four years, while also pointing out I think some of those constants and enduring elements of America's engagement to the region, will form the basis of most of our conversations I think in the week ahead.
MR PATEL: All right. Thanks so much, everybody. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to join. Again, a reminder this call was on the record, and it is under embargo until 1:00 PM Eastern. Thank you all for joining, and we'll talk to you all next time.
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