U.S., ASEAN upgrade ties amid China rise, eye maritime cooperation

U.S. President Joe Biden and the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Saturday formally elevated their ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" and agreed to advance maritime and economic cooperation, underscoring Washington's deeper commitment to the region amid China's growing clout.Attending the annual U.S.-ASEAN summit in Cambodia, Biden hailed the upgrading of their relationship from the "strategic partnership" status, saying it marks "a new era" in their cooperation."Together we will tackle the biggest issues of our time," Biden said at the meeting, touching…READ FULL ARTICLE