What to Expect From Biden's Trip to Asia

Pyongyang fired three short-range ballistic missiles last Thursday, the latest in a series of weapons tests this year. Officials are bracing for another one.

"We are preparing for all contingencies, including the possibility that such a provocation would occur while we are in Korea or Japan," Sullivan said, adding that the US will adjust its military posture to ensure it is providing "defense and deterrence" to allies.

Last week's missile test coincided with Pyongyang's confirmation of its first case of Covid-19. North Korea is one of the very few countries not inoculating its population against the coronavirus — it has repeatedly turned down vaccine donations from the United Nations' COVAX program.

North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un has ordered nationwide lockdowns and a bolstering of the country's defense posture. Lockdowns could be disastrous to the country, which suffers from drought and food shortages. Observers say, however, that the Covid-19 crisis could provide an opening to boost engagement with Pyongyang.

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Pandemic response

In their March 2021 virtual meeting, Quad leaders pledged to supply 1 billion Covid-19 shots by the end of 2022 "to strengthen and assist countries in the Indo-Pacific."

The initiative is currently in limbo as the manufacturer, India's Biological E Ltd., has yet to receive the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing (EUL) it needs to distribute the doses.

With various vaccine manufacturers producing more than 1 billion doses of vaccines per month, observers say the problem lies in global distribution capacity rather than production targets. The Quad is expected to discuss how to best address the issue moving forward, as part of its vaccine diplomacy in the region.

Other issues of regional concern are also expected to be addressed, such as combating climate change, addressing rising energy prices, and increasing supply chain resilience in various sectors including semiconductors.

Biden is expected to visit a Samsung Electronics chip manufacturing complex in South Korea. Last year, Samsung announced it is building a chip plant in the US state of Texas, a win for the administration as it seeks to increase domestic chip production to compete with China and mitigate supply chain disruptions.

Source: VOA