Asean Meets to Strengthen Ties as U.S., China Vie for Influence
- From: Chim <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:25:07 -0700 (PDT)
Asean Meets to Strengthen Ties as U.S., China Vie for Influence
By Daniel Ten Kate
July 20 (Bloomberg) -- Southeast Asian foreign ministers met to
strengthen ties before a broader gathering this week to discuss
security threats in the region with the world’s fastest- growing major
economies.
“Effective action must replace extended deliberation,” Thai Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in an opening address in Phuket,
Thailand, where the meetings are being held. “We must show to the
world that Asean is ready to meet any challenge and is well prepared
to act decisively.”
Top diplomats from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
Nations are meeting this week to further their goal of forming a
European Union-style economic alliance. U.S. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton will join them in two days for the Asean Regional
Forum, where 27 nations representing half the world’s population will
discuss security issues such as North Korea’s nuclear program, border
disputes and terrorism.
The U.S. and China are competing for influence in a resources-rich
region that contains sea lanes vital for carrying oil from the Middle
East to China and northeast Asia. The adoption of a charter last year
has fortified Asean’s structure even as individual members struggle
with recession, political upheaval and terrorism.
Wide economic disparity among the countries has made it difficult to
leverage the group’s market of 575 million people in vying for
investments with China and India, the world’s fastest growing major
economies. Abhisit said the bloc should “continue to nurture a culture
of concerted action” in order “to reinforce Asean’s centrality.”
Swine Flu, Currencies
Abhisit called for cooperation in making vaccines for swine flu and
lauded the group’s completion in May of a $120 billion foreign-
currency reserve pool to help revive investor confidence. The pool,
formed with China, Japan and South Korea, widens access to foreign-
exchange reserves and allows Asean countries to defend their
currencies.
Foreign direct investment into Asean fell 13 percent last year to
$60.1 billion, according to the group’s official statistics. China
attracted a record $92.4 billion last year, excluding the financial
sector, and has since seen overseas investments decline each month
this year as companies pare spending to weather the global financial
crisis.
Export-dependent countries like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia are
all facing recession as the global slump crimps demand for
electronics, cars and computer chips. Indonesia, which has avoided
recession because of a stronger domestic economy, suffered a blow last
week when suicide bombers killed nine and wounded 53 in attacks at two
U.S.-run luxury hotels.
Purchasing Power Disparities
Southeast Asia’s four largest economies -- Indonesia, Thailand,
Malaysia and Singapore -- account for almost 80 percent of all foreign
investment into Asean. The purchasing power of the group’s four
richest countries was 10 times greater than the other members last
year, according to statistics on the bloc’s Web site.
“We should begin to think about what type of community we want to
see,” Abhisit said. “In a region as diverse as Southeast Asia, I am
sure our ideas will be varied but I hope as we get to the year 2015,
our ideas will converge.”
Internal political fights in the 10-member bloc have disrupted the
region’s efforts to integrate and stymied progress on a human rights
body. An April summit of Asian leaders in Pattaya, Thailand, was
canceled midway through after anti- government protesters who wanted
Abhisit to resign stormed the meeting venue. Thailand has beefed up
security this week.
Human Rights Body
Asean foreign ministers today hope to complete the details of a human
rights body that has no mandate to investigate country-specific
issues, according to Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya. The
commission reflects a “maximum consensus” among member states and its
powers will be reviewed every five years, he said.
Since its founding in 1967, Asean made decisions mainly by consensus,
refusing to comment on affairs of individual members. Two years ago
the bloc’s leaders signed a charter, the group’s first legally binding
document.
Governments found to be in violation of its rules will be referred to
Asean leaders to come up with a consensus on action. The group
rejected proposals to add voting, expulsion or sanctions on its
members.
Asean includes Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the
Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Thailand holds the
rotating chairmanship until December.
To contact the reporters on this story: Daniel Ten Kate in Cha-am,
Thailand at dtenkate@xxxxxxxxxxxxx;
Last Updated: July 19, 2009 23:54 EDT
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