KUALA LUMPUR : In an interview with Astro Awani's Editor-in-Chief Ashwad Ismail, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken touched on how he imagines the Southeast Asia region in 2022.
He is hopeful for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
"There are three levels to this. First, at an individual level, I hope there is freedom to live in open societies where one can have a voice in their own country.
"Next is, of course, for countries, I hope that they will be able to not only choose their own paths but also their own partners.
"As for the regional level, I hope that the region will take a cooperating and collaborating approach. I think those are the most important words, not coercion," said Blinken.
Blinken was in Southeast Asia for a three-nation trip. He had to postpone a scheduled visit to Thailand because a member of the traveling U.S. press team tested positive for COVID-19 in Kuala Lumpur.
He is hopeful for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
"There are three levels to this. First, at an individual level, I hope there is freedom to live in open societies where one can have a voice in their own country.
"Next is, of course, for countries, I hope that they will be able to not only choose their own paths but also their own partners.
"As for the regional level, I hope that the region will take a cooperating and collaborating approach. I think those are the most important words, not coercion," said Blinken.
Blinken was in Southeast Asia for a three-nation trip. He had to postpone a scheduled visit to Thailand because a member of the traveling U.S. press team tested positive for COVID-19 in Kuala Lumpur.
