Biden’s summit no-show adds to ASEAN’s relevance crisis
The absence of the US president, who typically attends, magnifies the already sombre backdrop of the 10-state bloc’s traditional show of unity and group handshakes.
Jakarta | South-East Asian leaders led by Indonesian host president Joko Widodo are gathering in their final summit this year, besieged by divisive issues with no solutions in sight: Myanmar’s deadly civil strife, new flare-ups in the disputed South China Sea, and the longstanding United States-China rivalry.
The Association of South-East Asian Nations meetings will open on Tuesday in the Indonesian capital Jakarta under tight security. The absence of US President Joe Biden, who typically attends, adds to the already sombre backdrop of the 10-state bloc’s traditional show of unity and group handshakes.
AP
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