China tightens ASEAN grip while US looks inward

Beijing fills diplomatic void left by America's chaotic presidential transition

China is expanding its sway over Southeast Asia during the latest ASEAN summit, seeing an opening in U.S. absence. (Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat/Kusuma Pandu WIjay)

TOMOYA ONISHI and TSUKASA HADANO, Nikkei staff writers

November 14, 2020 05:57 JST

HANOI/BEIJING -- China has moved to expand its influence in Southeast Asia as the U.S. remains absent from the diplomatic stage, touting the birth of a major economic bloc and promising priority access to coronavirus vaccines in the ASEAN summit.