Antony Blinken’s <br />Southeast Asia <br />Trip Halted , Due to COVID Case, in Traveling Party.<br />NBC News reports that on Dec. 15, Secretary of State <br />Antony Blinken was forced to cut his Southeast Asia trip <br />short due to a COVID-19 case in his traveling party. .<br />The announcement brings the trip, intended <br />to boost ties with a region where China has <br />increased its influence, to an abrupt halt.<br />Blinken was scheduled <br />to hold meetings in Thailand on Dec. 16<br />before returning to Washington. .<br />State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that <br />the decision was made after a positive case was <br />reported among the traveling press corps. .<br />While Blinken and senior officials tested negative in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 15, the Secretary of State called his Thai counterpart to express regret over the cancellation. .<br />He explained that in order to mitigate the risk <br />of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the <br />health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and <br />those they would otherwise come into contact <br />with, the secretary would be returning to <br />Washington, D.C., out of an abundance of caution, Ned Price, State Department spokesperson, via NBC News.<br />He explained that in order to mitigate the risk <br />of the spread of COVID-19 and to prioritize the <br />health and safety of the U.S. traveling party and <br />those they would otherwise come into contact <br />with, the secretary would be returning to <br />Washington, D.C., out of an abundance of caution, Ned Price, State Department spokesperson, via NBC News.<br />According to NBC News, the United States has been trying <br />to solidify ties with the region as China pushes for deeper <br />trade, integration and major infrastructure projects. .<br />On Dec. 14, while speaking at a university in Indonesia, Blinken outlined a strategy for boosting economic ties and improving defense and diplomacy. .<br />On Dec. 15, Blinken and Malaysian Foreign Minister <br />Saifuddin Abdullah participated in a joint news conference. .<br />Malaysia's foreign ministry said that <br />the individual who tested positive <br />was immediately put into quarantine. .<br />The person was not involved and has <br />not participated in any of Secretary <br />Blinken's programs in Kuala Lumpur, Spokesperson for Malaysia's Foreign Ministry, via NBC News
