Vice President Joe Biden reaffirmed the US’s commitment to Asia during a speech at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 6. The speech followed a week-long tour of South Korea, Japan, and China, where Biden repeatedly addressed mounting tensions in the region. On his last stop, Biden assured the audience the US would play a prominent role in creating a new era of prosperity and security in Asia, reports the Associated Press. He also called on Asian countries to open their economies as well as reduce trade barriers, create opportunities for women, and cooperate on environmental protection, states the Dec. 6 release. Biden said trust and shared rules are needed to support the collective goal of prosperity in the region. “This is one of those inflection points in history,” Biden said. “We actually have a chance—a chance—to bend history just slightly.”
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan flew an unusual trilateral flight with two U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers escorted by two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s, and two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighters—both countries’ respective variants of the F-16—July 11. That same weekend, the top military officers of the three nations…