In Southeast Asia, Kamala Harris is at the center of White House efforts to counter China

JAKARTA, Indonesia – It took more than a day of flying, including two refueling stops, for Vice President Kamala Harris to reach this year’s summit of Southeast Asian countries. Once she arrived, she had less than eight minutes to speak in public during two meetings.

But at Jakarta’s cavernous convention center, decked out in billowing flowers and tropical plants for the occasion, Harris saw an opportunity to shape the future of US foreign policy.

In an interview with The Associated Press, the vice president said Washington should “pay attention to 10, 20, 30 years from now, and what we’re developing now will be to the benefit of our country at that time.”

For her, that means working in Southeast Asia. Two thirds of its population is under 35 years of age. It is the fourth largest market for US exports. One third of the world’s shipping passes through the South China Sea.

“Think about it,” Harris said.

This was his third trip to Southeast Asia since taking office (Harris returned to Washington on Thursday) and he visited more countries here than in any other region. It’s a sprawling constellation of nations, many of them craving the personal touch of an American leader, and Harris has spent the last few years hanging around.

Although tackling migration from Central America was the original task of Harris’s foreign policy portfolio, her most recent travels have placed her at the center of White House efforts to strengthen ties in Asia as a counterbalance to China. It is an international parallel to her more prominent role in domestic politics, where she led the way on key Democratic issues, such as abortion rights, in the upcoming election.

Whether at home or abroad, progress can be slow or difficult to measure. Harris’ approval ratings remain below expectations and her ads in Southeast Asia tend to run in the millions of dollars rather than the billions. But he described his work in the region as something he will pay dividends over time as he gets to know his leaders.

“The strongest relationships will be based on consistency, communication, trust and the ability to work together and grow a sense of connection,” he said.

Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, said “many of our greatest successes in the region were made possible by his diplomacy,” crediting Harris for helping “move the ball forward on some of our biggest priorities”.

“In our administration, she has been a strong advocate of intensifying our engagement in Southeast Asia, and has flown air miles to show for it, in recognition that our work there is critical to our own security and economic growth,” Sullivan said. .

Some analysts believe China maintains an advantage in the region, and the Australia-based Lowy Institute issued a report this year finding that Beijing has gained ground in recent years.

However, Harris delivered a series of addresses at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that were intended to demonstrate American commitment despite Biden’s absence from the summit.

“The American people have a deep interest in the future of the Indo-Pacific,” he said during a meeting. “We share a historical bond and common values ​​with many of the people and nations here.”

Harris also paid tribute to ASEAN as an organization, despite growing doubts about its effectiveness for regional diplomacy.

“The fact that so many leaders are coming together in this place at the same time to address some of the biggest challenges facing our world is a sign of the strength of both the commitment each nation has to the coalition and the potential for collaboration.” he told the AP.

Dinna Prapto Raharja, a Jakarta-based analyst and professor of international relations, said ASEAN is divided by competition between the United States and China, with some countries seeking to boost their economies through closer relations with one or the other.

“I don’t see solidarity right now, given the rivalry,” he said. “Everyone works in their own way.”

Harris’ trip to Southeast Asia began in his first year in office, when he visited Singapore and Vietnam, but the trip almost never took place.

Phil Gordon, Harris’ national security adviser, said there was talk of canceling because the administration was in the midst of a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“She personally insisted that we can do more than one thing at a time,” Gordon said. “She didn’t want to cancel our commitment to Southeast Asia.”

During the trip, he repeatedly criticized China for trying to control access to the South China Sea, at one point describing the behavior as “bullying.”

“She didn’t make it. She was clearly new to these issues, but she got to work,” said Gregory B. Poling, who directs the Southeast Asia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

He described Harris as “an effective avatar for the administration,” an important position when the president can only be in so many places at a time.

David Rothkopf, a foreign policy writer who worked on trade issues under former President Bill Clinton and met with Harris, said there is “always a period of adjustment” for an incoming administration.

“She was new to the team,” he said. “And she now sees herself as part of the team.”