US envoy: Trump skipping major ASEAN meet ‘purely scheduling reason’

US President Donald Trump’s decision to skip a major Association of Southeast Asian Nations meeting in Manila in November is “purely for scheduling reason,” Washington’s top envoy to the Philippines said Thursday as he assured America’s unwavering commitment to the region.

The ASEAN summit and other related meetings will be held in Manila on Nov. 12-14. It will be capped by the ASEAN-led East Asia Summit (EAS), a regional forum for strategic dialogue and cooperation on key challenges facing the East Asian region, where its dialogue partners US, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, India, and New Zealand are members.

“For very important reasons he needs to get back to Washington on the 14th and that’s why he will not be able to participate in the East Asia Summit,” US Ambassador Sung Kim told foreign correspondents at a forum as he downplayed criticisms that Trump’s absence in the EAS is due to his lack of interest in Southeast Asia compared to his predecessor, Barack Obama.

“It’s purely for scheduling reasons,” said Kim, saying such assumptions are “misguided.” “I don’t think the fact that President can not stay for the EAS in any way indicates weakening of our commitment to the Asia Pacific region.”

Since formally joining the EAS in 2011, the US has had influence on the direction of the ASEAN-led mechanism with the consistent attendance of then US President Obama.

Washington’s role has been very prominent in the EAS with the US President’s presence in the meeting, while its regional rivals Russia and China would only send prime ministers.

Trump’s absence from the EAS came at a time when the region is grappling with pressing security concerns, such as North Korea’s weapons programs and spread of Islamic extremism – issues usually discussed in the forum.

Kim said Trump will be represented in the meeting by a senior Cabinet official who will be travelling with him to Manila to attend the ASEAN-US commemorative summit.

President Rodrigo Duterte, who has been berating the US publicly for criticizing his all-out war on drugs, is tentatively scheduled to meet with Trump, who will only stay in Manila from Nov. 12 to 13.

Trump, Kim said, would discuss with Duterte a full range of issues, such as the strengthening bilateral ties with the Philippines, North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, maritime security, and counter-terrorism cooperation.

“The President himself is looking forward to visiting the Philippines as he recognizes the important relationship that we have with the Philippines,” Kim said.

Kim said he expects the two leaders to have “open and frank” discussions if Trump raises human rights issue.

“I think Secretary Tillerson and other senior officials in Washington have made it very clear that human rights, rule of law, due process are all very important principles and values the United continue to hold very dear. We will continue to work with our partners, allies and friends to promote these values and principles. I don’t think anything has changed in that regard,” Kim said. — RSJ, GMA News