Secretary Antony J. Blinken sat down with Teresa Tang of Channel News Asia on July 31, 2024, to discuss various pressing issues, including the recent killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran by an Israeli strike. When asked about the impact of Haniyeh's death, Blinken stated, "First, this is something we were not aware of or involved in. It’s very hard to speculate... So I can’t tell you what this means."
The Iranian president has vowed retaliation against Israel for the killing. In response to how the U.S. plans to prevent escalation and its support for Israel, Blinken emphasized efforts to contain the conflict since October 7th and reiterated the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza.
Shifting focus to regional matters, Blinken highlighted his extensive engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and discussed the U.S.'s recent upgrade of its military command structure in Japan. He noted President Biden's commitment to reinvigorating alliances and partnerships globally but particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Addressing concerns about potential overreliance on Japan as a key ally, Blinken pointed out that U.S. engagement extends beyond traditional partners to include ASEAN countries and other regional players like India and Australia.
On ASEAN's role amid varying opinions within its member states regarding the Quad alliance, Blinken assured that these arrangements are meant to complement ASEAN's central mission rather than replace it.
When questioned about America's political polarization and future priorities for Asia under a new administration, Blinken stressed that both President Biden and Vice President Harris believe strongly in international cooperation and leadership.
During his visit to Singapore, Blinken expressed optimism about future collaborations between the two nations across various sectors such as technology and capacity building within ASEAN countries.
Blinken concluded by highlighting ongoing dialogues on critical technologies with Singapore aimed at maximizing benefits while minimizing risks: "Working together... shaping that technology to maximize the good that it can bring."
