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 Pentagon plans to use U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s to deport 5,400 people currently detained by Customs and Border Protection, officials announced Jan. 22, the first act in President Donald Trump’s sweeping promise to crack down on undocumented immigrants and increase border security.