U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrives in Singapore Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)

       SINGAPORE (Kyodo) -- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in Singapore on Sunday as part of her first official trip to Asia that aims to show U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region amid the growing clout of China.

       Her two-nation trip to Asia, which includes Vietnam, comes as U.S. President Joe Biden faces strong criticism at home and abroad over the chaos caused by the hasty U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan amid the Taliban's recent takeover of the country.

       Harris will stay in Singapore for three days from Sunday, holding talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday, after which they plan to hold a joint press conference.

       Also Monday, she will visit Changi Naval Base where she will board a U.S. littoral combat ship.

       She will deliver a speech the following day to underscore the importance of partnerships and areas for further cooperation, before flying to Vietnam where she will become the first sitting U.S. vice president ever to visit the country.

       Last month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines, becoming the first member of Biden's Cabinet to visit Southeast Asia.

       The Biden administration has been striving to strengthen cooperation with its partners and like-minded countries to counter China's growing assertiveness in the region.

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0