WASHINGTON (AP) Vice President Joe Biden is planning a three-country trip to Asia in early December.
The White House says Biden will visit China, Japan and South Korea. His stops are expected to focus on U.S. trade with Asia, as well as cooperation on regional security threats.
President Barack Obama has made boosting ties with Asia a central part of his foreign policy agenda. Obama had planned to travel to the region this fall, but canceled his trip because of the partial federal government shutdown.
Biden's itinerary does not include any of the countries Obama had been expected to visit.
