ID :
24431
Tue, 10/14/2008 - 16:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/24431
The shortlink copeid
ASEAN WILL REMAIN LOW PRIORITY FOR US
BANGKOK, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Whether Barack Obama or John McCain becomes the next US President, Asean has to accept the fact that it will remain a low priority in the world super power's foreign policy despite the two candidates' past links to the region, a Thai-US Think-Tank Summit was told Tuesday.
Manu Bhaskaran of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said his
view was based on the changing nature of economies and political scenarios
between the US and the 10-member Asean, as well as the depleting resources that
the former could deploy to the region.
"My view is sober but we have to accept the fact that we are not their (US)
highest priority but what we are asking are rational favours. Instead of ad hoc
assistance, as well as investments coming down in recent years, the US can help
by investing in areas like infrastructures," he said during a session on
"US-Asean Relations with a New White House and Congress".
Bhaskaran said the US was becoming less and less relevant to Asean in terms
of trade, citing Thailand's export to the country, which dropped by half and
accounts for only 10 per cent in the last 10 years while foreign direct
investment to the region was way below Japan and the Europe.
"Not only are the direct ties weakening, the US is also falling in
many
areas, such as there is no Free Trade Agreement with Asean. With the financial
crisis in the US which will affect employment and the people, the attitude
towards foreign policy would also change and the next Congress, which could be
under Democrats, will look inward and favour protectionism," he said.
McCain, the Republican candidate, was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam
war while his Democrat rival, Obama, grew up in Indonesia.
Bhaskaran said that despite the current shortcomings, the US should focus
more attention on Asean and take a leaf from China which had huge interest
around the world but never neglected the region and was always represented by
its prime minister and foreign minister at the annual Asean Summit.
"We are low priority, unless one Asean country embarks on a nuclear
programme or block the Straits of Melaka (jokingly). It's important that the US
focus on a few things with their limited resources," he said.
Peter Manikas, Asia Programmes Director at the National Democratic
Institute, said both Obama and McCain did not touch on Asean during their
ongoing campaigns as their focus was more on conflict areas like Iraq and
Afghanistan.
"Iraq and Afghanistan will drain resources from other parts of the world.
Obama had said that he would cut foreign aid...it's most vulnerable and always
the first victim of fiscal policy," he added.
Dr Catharin Dalpino, Director of Thai Studies Programme at Georgetown
University, said it was good that the region had no prominent place in both
candidates' campaign trails as it would be difficult for them to keep to any
promise made once in office.
However, she said ,the new administration would be facing several key
issues
related to US-Asean ties, particularly whether to sign the Asean Treaty of Amity
and Cooperation (TAC) and whether to seek entry into the East Asia Summit (EAS).
As to dissatisfaction over the lack of participation of high-ranking US
government officials in Asean-related meetings, Dr Dalpino said the Asia Pacific
Cooperation (Apec) Summit to be hosted by Singapore in 2009 could be a good
platform for the new US President to engage closely with the region, including
making official visits to member countries during the period.
Asia Foundation vice-chairman Dr Harry Harding said that while the
financial
crisis in the US could further affect its engagement in the region, the diverse
political structure would also continue to pose a problem for its relations with
Asean.
"It's a question of how the US wants to engage and maintain balanced ties
with each Asean country that has its own political structure. For instance, the
question of Myanmar...if the US signs the treaty, is it in any way accepting the
legitimacy of the Myanmar government?
"And if the US seeks membership in EAS, what price do we have to pay and
what is the benefit? said Harding.
Manu Bhaskaran of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said his
view was based on the changing nature of economies and political scenarios
between the US and the 10-member Asean, as well as the depleting resources that
the former could deploy to the region.
"My view is sober but we have to accept the fact that we are not their (US)
highest priority but what we are asking are rational favours. Instead of ad hoc
assistance, as well as investments coming down in recent years, the US can help
by investing in areas like infrastructures," he said during a session on
"US-Asean Relations with a New White House and Congress".
Bhaskaran said the US was becoming less and less relevant to Asean in terms
of trade, citing Thailand's export to the country, which dropped by half and
accounts for only 10 per cent in the last 10 years while foreign direct
investment to the region was way below Japan and the Europe.
"Not only are the direct ties weakening, the US is also falling in
many
areas, such as there is no Free Trade Agreement with Asean. With the financial
crisis in the US which will affect employment and the people, the attitude
towards foreign policy would also change and the next Congress, which could be
under Democrats, will look inward and favour protectionism," he said.
McCain, the Republican candidate, was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam
war while his Democrat rival, Obama, grew up in Indonesia.
Bhaskaran said that despite the current shortcomings, the US should focus
more attention on Asean and take a leaf from China which had huge interest
around the world but never neglected the region and was always represented by
its prime minister and foreign minister at the annual Asean Summit.
"We are low priority, unless one Asean country embarks on a nuclear
programme or block the Straits of Melaka (jokingly). It's important that the US
focus on a few things with their limited resources," he said.
Peter Manikas, Asia Programmes Director at the National Democratic
Institute, said both Obama and McCain did not touch on Asean during their
ongoing campaigns as their focus was more on conflict areas like Iraq and
Afghanistan.
"Iraq and Afghanistan will drain resources from other parts of the world.
Obama had said that he would cut foreign aid...it's most vulnerable and always
the first victim of fiscal policy," he added.
Dr Catharin Dalpino, Director of Thai Studies Programme at Georgetown
University, said it was good that the region had no prominent place in both
candidates' campaign trails as it would be difficult for them to keep to any
promise made once in office.
However, she said ,the new administration would be facing several key
issues
related to US-Asean ties, particularly whether to sign the Asean Treaty of Amity
and Cooperation (TAC) and whether to seek entry into the East Asia Summit (EAS).
As to dissatisfaction over the lack of participation of high-ranking US
government officials in Asean-related meetings, Dr Dalpino said the Asia Pacific
Cooperation (Apec) Summit to be hosted by Singapore in 2009 could be a good
platform for the new US President to engage closely with the region, including
making official visits to member countries during the period.
Asia Foundation vice-chairman Dr Harry Harding said that while the
financial
crisis in the US could further affect its engagement in the region, the diverse
political structure would also continue to pose a problem for its relations with
Asean.
"It's a question of how the US wants to engage and maintain balanced ties
with each Asean country that has its own political structure. For instance, the
question of Myanmar...if the US signs the treaty, is it in any way accepting the
legitimacy of the Myanmar government?
"And if the US seeks membership in EAS, what price do we have to pay and
what is the benefit? said Harding.
