OUTSPOKEN ON ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES
Sean King, senior vice president at New York consultancy firm Park Strategies, noted that Harris was “very outspoken” on Asian human rights issues during her time as California senator.
For example, she co-sponsored the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act with Florida senator Marco Rubio in 2019.
She also wrote several pieces of legislation on Myanmar, which has been embroiled in a civil war after its military junta staged a coup in 2021.
“As much as any president comes in with foreign policy experience (or) lack thereof, I feel very confident, given her background and given the administration she’d be leaving,” King told CNA938.
“I wouldn’t have any qualms and I think a lot of allies feel very good about her.”
King added that he thinks Harris will push America’s alliances with its Asian allies as far as they can go in the countries themselves.
For instance, South Korea now has a pro-American president – Yoon Suk Yeol – who likely has three years left in office. But King said a scandal cannot be ruled out there.
He warned that Harris should not personalise things too much, though he said there has been no sign of that happening.
“If you had to think of something that I would not want her to see do that the last two presidents have done, that would be it, because I’m really not interested in how many times Biden’s met (Chinese President) Xi Jinping,” King added.
“And I’m disgusted by the fact that Trump’s in love with (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un.”
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