Harris heads to Singapore, Vietnam in shadow of Taliban rise

Vice president’s trip, set to focus on China, comes as some allies question US credibility in light of Afghanistan chaos.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris will embark on Friday on a trip to Asia, with the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Washington’s desperate scramble to evacuate Americans and vulnerable Afghans sure to cast a long shadow over the visit. While the trip was announced in late July, before the bulk of the Taliban’s lightning offensive across the country amid a US and foreign troop withdrawal that saw the group take Kabul on August 15, observers say the situation has increased urgency for Harris to bolster the perception of US credibility in its foreign policy. That comes as some have come to question, in light of recent events in Afghanistan, whether allies can rely on Washington to fulfil longstanding security commitments.