Blinken Represents U.S. at Asia Summit Amid Tensions with China

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will lead discussions on regional security and human rights issues at the ASEAN summit in Laos.

Blinken is attending the East Asia Summit in Laos on behalf of President Biden, who will not be present.
The summit will address strained U.S.-China relations, with China represented by Premier Li Qiang.
Key topics include human rights in Myanmar, China's actions in the South China Sea, and the situation in Ukraine.
Blinken's participation underscores U.S. commitment to the ASEAN region despite domestic political focus on the upcoming presidential election.
Meetings in Laos precede Blinken's travel to Germany and Angola to join President Biden for other engagements.