Asia hopes Biden will highlight diplomacy, Asia News & Top Stories



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As messages of congratulations for US President-elect Joe Biden pour in from around the world, politicians in one country have remained remarkably silent.

China’s leaders refrained from commenting on the US election results, with Chinese state media largely reporting only the news of Biden’s victory.

But the Global Times, backed by the Communist Party of America, targeted the United States in two editorials over the weekend.

One described the “negative effects of indulging and intensifying social divisions” resulting in “a destructive tipping point”, while the other said that “the balance of power in elections shows that serious social division has jeopardized the judgment of the Americans “.

Ties between China and the US have deteriorated significantly in recent years, with tensions on multiple fronts, including the pandemic and disputes over trade and technology.

Others around the world were more optimistic, with government leaders expressing hopes of strengthening ties with the Biden administration and political observers predicting a return to more agreeable diplomacy.

“Congratulations @JoeBiden … on your spectacular win!” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Sunday. “I look forward to working closely once again to take the US-Indian relations to greater heights.”

In a tweet to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, referring to her South Asian roots, she wrote: “Her success is groundbreaking and a source of immense pride not only for her chittis (aunts), but also for all Indian Americans. .. “

Harris had spoken in August about his mother of Tamil origin and “Chittis” when accepting the nomination from the Democratic Party.

Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said: “American voters have decided decisively to support Mr. Biden … for his leadership and vision.”

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha congratulated Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris on the trust they had earned from American voters, while

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he was “eager to work closely” with the new Biden administration.

Duterte had previously said that he preferred Donald Trump to be reelected, having been criticized by US Democrats for his war on drugs and his crackdown on civil liberties.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he hoped to strengthen the Japan-US alliance and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Japanese media quoted government sources as saying that Suga hopes to meet with Biden in the United States as soon as possible after his swearing in on January 20.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed “high expectations” for the future of the country’s ties with the United States.

Singapore Institute of International Affairs principal investigator Oh Ei Sun said Biden’s victory will usher in a more liberal administration for the US, with growing domestic concerns such as affirmative action and immigration.

“Internationally, it would mean a less transactional and more predictable America that once again embraces multilateralism and free trade,” said Dr. Oh.

Dr. Dinna Prapto Raharja, from Indonesia’s Bina Nusantara University, agreed, saying: “Under Trump, the United States has avoided various forums of multilateral diplomacy. We hope this will be reversed.”

Public policy professor Huynh The Du of Fulbright University in Vietnam said: “Biden has a lot of experience … Other countries want some kind of leadership from the US to maintain a world order. Biden’s leadership may be more of course the Trump administration in this regard. “



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