Harris vows ‘enduring engagement’ in Asia

Vice President Kamala Harris vowed "enduring engagement" in Asia yesterday, offering reassurances of Washington's commitment to the region following the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover.

The hardline Islamists' swift return to power a week ago, and desperate scenes of thousands trying to flee, have cast a shadow over the United States' status as a global superpower.

But on a visit to Singapore, her first stop on a trip that will also include Vietnam, Harris repeatedly insisted that Washington could be depended on.

"Our administration is committed to enduring engagement in Singapore, into Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific," Harris told a press conference alongside Singapore's leader.

"The reason I am here is because the United States is a global leader, and we take that role seriously."

But she dodged questions about whether US credibility had been damaged by the Afghan debacle, saying only her government's focus was on "evacuating American citizens, Afghans who worked with us and vulnerable Afghans, including women and children".

Harris is also facing criticism for being tone-deaf in going ahead with a visit to Vietnam as US forces struggle to evacuate tens of thousands of people.

US officials insist the trip was planned long before the Afghan crisis and is focused on Washington's broader strategic goals in Asia.

Southeast Asia is seen as critically important at a time China is challenging US political sway and naval dominance in the region.

Washington has repeatedly criticised Beijing's expansive claims to almost the entire flashpoint South China Sea, which overlap with claims of several Southeast Asian states and Taiwan.

At yesterday's press conference, Harris reiterated US commitment to "uphold the rules-based international order and freedom of navigation, including in the South China Sea".