Biden delays visit to Australia, Papua New Guinea draws questions, criticism

USINGLEAGUE 2.0

 

 Biden administration officials dismissed criticism of the decision to postpone a visit to Australia and the historic trip to Papua New Guinea, the first by a U.S. president.

The postponement of the visit was due to the need for President Joe Biden to return home for budget negotiations as soon as possible, a move that analysts described as a step back for the United States and a big gift to China. China is flexing its muscles in the Indo-Pacific region, which is one of the reasons why the Biden administration has been developing allies in the region recently.

Biden set off for Japan on Wednesday (May 17) to attend the G-7 (Group of Seven) summit, but his itinerary was shortened.

Biden called Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on Air Force One earlier Thursday. He invited Marape to Washington in September for the second Pacific Islands summit, saying "the leaders could continue discussions at the meeting to strengthen US-Pacific cooperation on shared priorities, including addressing the climate crisis and strengthening trade and economic ties." , promote maritime security, promote sustainable and inclusive development, and increase contact between people.” Biden held the first US-Pacific Island Summit last September.

"On behalf of my people, I am honored that Biden called me directly ... and he expressed his sincerest apologies for not being able to visit," Marape said. Secretary of State Antony

Blinken He will travel to Papua New Guinea in his place on Monday.

Biden's brief visit to the northern island nation of Australia is expected to cement a new defense agreement between Washington and Port Moresby that will allow the U.S. Coast Guard to patrol Papua New Guinea waters. Originally, Biden also planned to travel to Sydney to hold summits with the leaders of India, Australia and Japan. The summit has now been cancelled.

The defense cooperation agreement will be signed on Monday as planned, Marape said.

National Security Adviser Jack Sullivan said on Air Force One: "I think it's somewhat of an exaggeration to say that postponing the visits to Australia and Papua New Guinea reflects the fundamentals of American diplomacy right now."

Sullivan cited examples of the Biden administration's deep engagement with the region over the past five months, citing recent security-focused agreements with Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Australia, as well as recent technology initiatives with India.

"The fact that he had to postpone his trip to Australia and Papua New Guinea, when you compare that to the progress we've made with our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, we believe, that view," he said. The notion that (China) is somehow sitting on the sidelines and being happy and happy about it is a convenient narrative for the visit in the media, but it doesn't reflect reality anyway," he said.

Sullivan said Biden also spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Anthony Albanese), and the two agreed that Biden would visit Australia in the future and that Biden would host Albanese at a state dinner at the White House. He did not say when those visits would come.

Prior to this, analysts considered the visit important.

Charles Edel, director of the Australia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said at a briefing days before the trip was canceled that the visit was to demonstrate that "the United States is a reliable, active and enduring partner for the Pacific island nations. The region has regained lost ground. Washington's years of strategic neglect have created a strategic vacuum that China is eager to step in. The result is that China has been steadily increasing its influence and power in the region, and the U.S. now needs to fight back.

" Erin Murphy told VOA on Wednesday that the impact of the delay was significant.

She said: "Considering what the United States is trying to do in the Pacific island countries, to show its economic, military, diplomatic engagement, and to show that it is a strategic competitor, to provide what the Pacific island countries need. It's a major step backward,"

agreed Daniel Russel of the Asia Society Policy Institute.

"First of all, it's clearly a huge disappointment to Papua New Guinea and its leaders, as well as other Pacific island nations, including Australia's," he said. The

Sydney Morning Herald described the postponement of the visit as " Disappointing, messy and a big gift to Beijing," saying "Biden's exit is significant because it sends a damaging message to the Asia-Pacific region about America's commitment to the region, which is now in fierce competition with China for influence .”

In Papua New Guinea, local media also reported the disappointment of the nine million residents.

Marape had originally declared Monday — the day of Biden’s visit — to be a public holiday.