U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized Friday the importance of ensuring the freedom of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to choose and forge alliances without facing coercion. Speaking to reporters following the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Indonesia, Blinken said the United States and the 10-member bloc have embarked on “a new…

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Indonesia next week for talks with the Southeast Asian allies as the United States seeks to push back against China’s “coercive” actions in the disputed South China Sea. Mr. Blinken will travel to Indonesia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers summit after concluding his…

“China basically believes the U.S. is no longer a force in global affairs.” We speak to Gordon Chang about how the recent meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping was essentially part of a Chinese power play. …

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stood by earlier comments from President Joe Biden calling Chinese leader Xi Jinping a dictator, saying “the president speaks for all of us.” Biden earlier referred to Xi as a “dictator” during a fundraiser event in California, just a day after Blinken reported having had a “robust conversation” with the…

The United States and Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed a defense cooperation agreement on Monday to solidify their bilateral ties as the U.S. attempts to push back China’s influence in the Pacific region. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with PNG Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby on behalf of President Joe Biden, whose…

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Papua New Guinea (PNG) in lieu of President Joe Biden, whose trip was canceled due to the United States debt limit talks, next week amid efforts to counter China’s rising influence in the Pacific. Biden contacted PNG leader James Marape on May 18 to inform him that…

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has requested transcribed interviews with five current and former State Department officials regarding the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. In his May 14 press release, Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) announced his panel’s request for on-the-record interviews, which he asked that the witnesses arrange by May 22. Interviews were requested…

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) has threatened to place Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress as a result of the probe into the United States’ departure from Afghanistan. The House Foreign Affairs chairman sent a May 5 letter to Blinken as part of the latest development in the panel’s probe. The committee’s investigation began…

The House Foreign Affairs Committee has signed a subpoena for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to obtain a July 2021 Dissent Channel cable and the Secretary’s response. Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) requested the cable that is believed to have warned the administration of a lack of proper preparation for President Joe Biden’s unilateral decision to…