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. 16br 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. .