Advertisement
US VP Kamala Harris to hold talks on issues from Taiwan to North Korea during Asia trip
- Harris will confront controversy at nearly every turn as she visits Asia for the memorial honouring former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe
- US allies are seeking clarity over whether Biden will defend Taiwan from a potential Chinese invasion, while North Korea’s provocations, and the Tokyo-Seoul relationship, are also issues Harris has to contend with
Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
10
Attending funerals on behalf of the United States is normally a straightforward assignment for a vice-president, but Kamala Harris will confront controversy at nearly every turn as she visits Asia for the memorial honouring former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Advertisement
US allies are seeking clarity after mixed messages over whether President Joe Biden would send troops to defend Taiwan from a potential Chinese invasion, a conflict that could swiftly engulf the rest of the region.
There’s the potential for more provocations from North Korea, which test-fired a missile shortly before Harris’ departure on Sunday from Washington.
Advertisement
Meanwhile, South Korea and Japan are inching toward a reconciliation that would heal some of the wounds left from World War II, with the US gingerly trying to nudge along the process. And there’s resentment over a new US law that makes electric vehicles built outside North America ineligible for subsidies.
06:15
Does slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe deserve a state funeral?
Does slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe deserve a state funeral?
Advertisement