The Biden administration is seeking to defend the rules-based international order in Asia by working closely with regional allies and partners rather than prioritizing communication with China, an administration official said.
The United States will work with partners to shape the operating environment of the Indo-Pacific, according to National Security Council Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.
“We recognize now that the most important steps that we can take have to do with the operating system, and how we work with allies and partners,” Campbell said during a March 30 discussion with the Center for a New American Security think tank.
“The idea here is not to in any way challenge China, or surround China, but to protect our interests and to make sure that through common effort we are able to stabilize and strengthen the elements of this system which we think have benefited all.”…