Pompeo Urges ASEAN Cooperation to Counter China

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, consecutively attended the ASEAN-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, urging ASEAN countries to cooperate in containing China. He also called on North Korea to halt provocations and return to negotiations.

According to the U.S. State Department on the 10th (local time), Secretary Pompeo emphasized the important role of ASEAN at the center of the U.S. Indo-Pacific vision during the ASEAN-U.S. Foreign Ministers' virtual meeting held the previous day.

The State Department explained that Secretary Pompeo discussed current issues such as North Korea's cessation of provocations and return to negotiations, as well as the suspension of China's aggressive and destabilizing policies in the South China Sea and Hong Kong during the meeting.

On the same day, Secretary Pompeo also held a virtual meeting with foreign ministers from 17 countries at the EAS, emphasizing U.S. support for the shared principles of openness, inclusiveness, transparency, and respect for international law within the Indo-Pacific vision.

Secretary Pompeo raised concerns about China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea with several ASEAN countries and many partner nations, and also expressed concerns about the situation in Hong Kong, including the National Security Law, with some countries.

He also urged other countries and North Korea to abandon weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

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