Trevor Hunnicutt and Simon Lewis by David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – This week President Joe Biden will be hosting Southeast Asian leaders at Washington. He wants to demonstrate that his administration is still focused on the Indo-Pacific region and the long-term challenge facing China despite the Ukraine crisis.

Two-day Summit with 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations begins Thursday night with a White House Dinner, followed by talks at State Department Friday.

The White House will host the ASEAN leaders who were created during the Cold War’s darkest hours. This is the first time they have gathered together as one group. The last U.S. leader that hosted them was President Barack Obama, who met at Sunnylands in California in 2016.

Eight ASEAN leaders could be expected. After a coup in Myanmar last year, Myanmar’s leader is out of office. The Philippines is currently transitioning after an election.

This summit will take place before Biden’s visit to South Korea, Japan and South Korea on May 20-24. Biden is also scheduled to meet with other leaders from the Quad countries (Australia, India, and Japan) who are concerned about China’s plans to increase its power in the region.

Kurt Campbell, Biden’s Indo-Pacific Coordinator spoke Wednesday at a think-tank about a deep understanding in administration that there is no need to be distracted by the Indo-Pacific. He stated it will seek to boost U.S. engagement and investment in ASEAN.

He indicated that China, Myanmar Taiwan, Taiwan, and Ukraine will be on the agenda.

“We believe that it is crucial for other nations to both publicly as well as privately underline that what occurred in Ukraine must not happen in Asia,” he stated, speaking of China’s threats to seize Taiwan.

Campbell recognized criticisms about the U.S. involvement with ASEAN in important areas.

He stated, “We must send a message that the United States is a stable partner and that our strategic interest pushes us to play a greater role over time.”

Campbell stated Monday that there will be substantial discussions with ASEAN regarding technology, education and infrastructure. Washington also announced plans to soon improve the fight against illegal fishing in Pacific.

Acting U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN, Kate Rebholz said that the summit will bring “an ambitious, forward-looking U.S.–ASEAN vision statement” as well as new initiatives including collaborations in public health and climate.

Although the summit will be largely symbolic with no major advances, analysts and diplomats stated that it is being held to highlight China’s role as a key U.S. foreign policy threat in the long term, regardless of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

The U.S. and ASEAN would be able to elevate their current strategic partnership by including a term that will make it “comprehensive”. This is in keeping with ASEAN’s relationship with Australia, China, and China.

Bilahari Kausikan (a former permanent secretary to Singapore’s foreign minister) said that Monday’s meeting was the “message” that showed the U.S. can walk and chew gum simultaneously.

ECONOMICS – U.S. FALLS FLAT

ASEAN members share similar concerns and want to strengthen ties with Washington. However, they are frustrated that the U.S. has been slow in laying out plans for economic engagement after former President Donald Trump renounced a 2017 regional trade agreement.

Biden stated that Washington will begin talks to develop a regional economic framework at a virtual summit last October. Diplomats however say it is unlikely this week.

The Japan ambassador to Washington said that Biden’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, (IPEF), is most likely to be launched in Japan. However, details are still being discussed.

According to diplomats and analysts, only two of the ASEAN 10 countries, namely Singapore and Philippines, are likely to join the initial group for negotiations under IPEF. The current IPEF does not provide the increased market access Asian countries seek, as Biden is concerned about American job security.

It has been reported that Biden will not be able to meet with ASEAN leaders, and there have been complaints about this.

According to Reuters, a Cambodian advisor, Hun Sen, who has been in power since 1985 and made his first White House visits, Biden needs more time with top leaders if he is serious about strengthening ties with the region.

Kao Kim Hourn was the advisor. He stated that Cambodia which is close to China’s economy would not pick sides with Washington, even though U.S.-based investment in Cambodia was increasing. ASEAN worked similarly with both countries under the principle of inclusion, he stated.

An analysis suggests that, despite the fact that ASEAN members share U.S. concerns over China, they still remain wary of siding with Washington due to their close economic relations with Beijing and restricted U.S. incentive programs.

“The U.S. does a pretty solid job on politics and security, but it falls flat on economics,” said Gregory Poling of Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies.

It cannot compete effectively with China if it brings only guns and diplomacy. To put it bluntly: It must bring money to compete with China. We have not been good at that.”