SEOUL – United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived on March 17 in South Korea on the first stop of a brief Asia tour that includes the Philippines, as Washington moves to reinforce ties with its two key regional allies.

Mr Blinken landed ahead of the third Summit for Democracy on March 18, an initiative of US President Joe Biden that Seoul is hosting.

Before arriving in Seoul, Mr Blinken had made a brief stop in Bahrain, where he spoke to King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa about efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

The democracy summit, which runs from March 18 to 20, will bring together government officials, non-governmental organisations and civil society members.

Seoul is one of Washington’s key regional allies. The US has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in South Korea to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North Korea.

Seoul’s conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan to better guard against Pyongyang’s threats.

Mr Blinken will meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho tae-yul, the ministry said, for discussions that will cover how to boost the alliance, as Washington and Seoul explore how to improve their so-called extended deterrence against North Korea.

The democracy summit has attracted some criticism due to its selective invitation list, which excludes countries that consider themselves democratic, such as Thailand and Turkey.

After Seoul, Mr Blinken heads to Manila, a trip that will reaffirm “our unwavering commitment to the Philippine ally”, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

He will talk to local officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, about issues with China, with disputes in parts of the South China Sea likely to top the agenda.

The US is redoubling efforts to improve longstanding ties with regional allies such as Manila in an effort to counterbalance China.

Beijing recently accused Washington of using the Philippines as a “pawn” in disputes over the South China Sea after a series of clashes around bitterly contested islets.

China claims almost the entire waterway, brushing aside competing claims from a host of South-east Asian nations and an international ruling that has declared its stance baseless.

The South China Sea is strategically vital for several countries, including China, providing a key route for the import and export of essential fuel, food and other goods.

China has rapidly grown its naval forces in recent years, and snatched vast tracts of maritime territory, hoping to project its military and political power well beyond the country’s shores. AFP