Blinken heads to South-East Asia to deepen cooperation on China pushback - first stop Jakarta on Monday (Dec 13)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due in Jakarta on Monday. - Reuters

WASHINGTON, Dec 12 (Reuters): The Biden administration will seek to bolster economic and security cooperation with Southeast Asia through a visit to the region next week by its top diplomat, as it works to forge a united front against China in the Indo-Pacific.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Monday and will also visit Malaysia and Thailand on his first South-East Asia trip since President Joe Biden took office in January.