US President Joe Biden / AFP
Every year, ASEAN-related summits have one outstanding issue to deal with: the leaders’ attendance. The most problematic has been the US. The key question has been whether the leader of the world’s most powerful country would attend the planned summits.
The latest news from Washington reveals that Biden will not be coming to Jakarta for the 4-7 September ASEAN-related summits, even though he will be in the neighborhood, visiting both India and Vietnam around the same time. The absence has upset the ASEAN chair, Indonesia, which had meticulously planned ahead by moving the usual timetable from November to September, to ensure that the president would be able to attend the G-20 as well. Every ASEAN chair wants to welcome all leaders of the dialogue countries to the bloc’s summits. Vice President Kamala Harris will represent Biden.
Last year,…
