US courts ASEAN, but bloc wary of another halfhearted 'pivot'

State Department's No. 2 tours region, playing catch-up to China

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, meets with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Phnom Penh on June 1. (Photo from Office of Cambodian PM)

KOYA JIBIKI, Nikkei staff writer

June 3, 2021 07:09 JST

JAKARTA -- Months after the inauguration of President Joe Biden, the U.S. is finally turning its diplomatic focus to Southeast Asia to counter rising Chinese clout there.