Kamala Harris begins Southeast Asia trip amid Afghan chaos

Vice president faces task of convincing Southeast Asia of US reliability amid its chaotic pullout from Afghanistan.

Kamala Harris, the vice president of the United States, arrived in Singapore on Sunday at the start of short tour to Southeast Asia, where she will offer reassurances of Washington’s commitment to the region amid concerns over China’s growing influence there. But experts say Harris will have to contend with questions over US dependability following its chaotic pullout from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s lightning takeover of the country. Reuters news agency quoted a US official saying that Harris’s trip will show Washington was in Southeast Asia “to stay” while AFP cited an official saying that the vice president “will make clear throughout the trip that we do have an enduring commitment to the region”.