With eye on China, Pentagon chief Austin heads to South-East Asia

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. - Reuters

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/ANN): United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will become the first member of President Joe Biden's Cabinet to visit South-east Asia this week, seeking to emphasise the importance Washington places on fortifying ties in the region while pushing back against China.

The US has put countering China at the heart of its national security policy for years and the Biden administration has called rivalry with Beijing "the biggest geopolitical test" of this century.