East Asia allies likely to bide time as US election looms over Pompeo trip

Pompeo heads for Japan, Mongolia and South Korea on Sunday at a time when U.S. ties with Beijing are at their worst in decades in the face of the coronavirus, which originated in China and has now infected President Donald Trump, his wife Melania and millions of other Americans.

Most Asian allies have been pleased with Washington's toughness toward their regional rival, but have not so eagerly welcomed Trump and Pompeo's highly charged recent rhetoric and remain wary of going too far in openly antagonizing China. Both Japan and South Korea will attempt a balancing act during Pompeo's trip, Oh said, careful not to stick their necks out too far to upset China, while also expressing support for the United States, in case Trump wins."There are very, very powerful political leaders, business leaders who do not trust China, who want the U.S.

Rising tensions over Taiwan have led some analysts to speculate China might be tempted to take advantage of a contested U.S. election to realize this goal and have also generated suggestions that Pompeo should consider an unannounced stop in Taipei to underline U.S. support. Randall Schriver, until last year the top Pentagon official dealing with East Asia, said the fact there was bipartisan support in Washington for a tougher line on Beijing that would also prevail in the case of a Biden administration meant Pompeo could have more robust conversations.

Japan, which is embroiled in a dispute with China over ownership of islands in the East China Sea, has a new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, who took office this month and has little diplomatic experience.

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