East Asia Summit Senior Officials’ Meeting

Office of the Spokesperson

Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kin Moy met on June 24 with senior officials from the East Asia Summit (EAS) nations and Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN for Political-Security Community Michael Tene during the East Asia Summit (EAS) Senior Officials’ Meeting.  Senior Bureau Official Moy reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to ASEAN and the EAS, highlighting the strong U.S. support for ASEAN centrality and for ASEAN-centered institutions.  He discussed the importance of upholding the rules-based international order, and reiterated U.S. support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Senior Bureau Official Moy outlined U.S. assistance to combat COVID-19, including the historic announcement that the U.S. will donate more than 500 million vaccine doses globally.  He stressed the importance of taking bold action to address the climate crisis, with an emphasis on ambitious 2030 emissions reductions targets, a shared effort to reach zero emissions by 2050, and the importance of a green recovery.

Expressing concerns over escalating tension in the South China Sea, Senior Bureau Official Moy reiterated U.S. support for freedom of navigation and overflight.  He underscored the U.S. rejection of the People’s Republic of China’s unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea and underscored U.S. support for Southeast Asian claimants’ lawful efforts to access their own maritime resources.

Senior Bureau Official Moy also highlighted the ongoing work of the Mekong-U.S. Partnership to promote transparency, autonomy, and inclusive growth in the Mekong sub-region.

Senior Bureau Official Moy urged ASEAN to take immediate action to hold the Burmese regime accountable to the ASEAN five-point consensus.  He called for joint action to press the Burmese military to end the violence, release those unjustly detained, and restore Burma to the path of democracy.