ID :
48474
Mon, 03/02/2009 - 16:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/48474
The shortlink copeid
ASEAN bloc may be an obstacle for APC
Kevin Rudd's vision for an Asia Pacific Community (APC) may have suffered another
blow after South-East Asian leaders accelerated their push to form an European
Union-style club.
During their weekend talkfest, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
signalled they were keen to set up a regional community bloc within the next six
years.
With a meeting dominated by the global financial crisis, the initiative is aimed at
protecting the bloc of 10 nations from future economic turmoil.
But it could also distract ASEAN members from the APC proposal floated by Mr Rudd
last year.
It is further competition for the APC after the United States recently hinted it may
sign up to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
Signing up to the treaty is a must for nations who want to join the East Asia
Summit, fuelling speculation the US plans to come on board.
But an expanded East Asia Summit could mean the region won't have any need for the APC.
Malcolm Cook, the East Asia director for the Lowy Institute for International
Policy, told AAP the APC initiative was facing growing competition from existing
regional architecture.
While an APC and EU-style ASEAN were not necessarily mutually exclusive, Dr Cook
said the ASEAN proposal would preoccupy the region over the next six years.
"Clearly if ASEAN is going to come anywhere close to achieving its ambitions, it's
going to take a huge amount of their effort so they will be without a doubt
preoccupied," he said.
When first floating the APC idea, Mr Rudd suggested a timeframe out to 2020.
Over recent months, the government has stressed that its suggestion was not
prescriptive and could evolve from existing regional architecture.
Mr Rudd's special envoy Richard Woolcott - charged with spruiking the plan in the
region - is due to report to the government soon on the region's response to the
idea.
Dr Cook said he had spoken to many of the same players as Mr Woolcott and the
reception to the APC was lukewarm.
"They're certainly giving me the message that there's enough different pieces of the
regional architecture puzzle to take up everyone's time," he said.
blow after South-East Asian leaders accelerated their push to form an European
Union-style club.
During their weekend talkfest, the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
signalled they were keen to set up a regional community bloc within the next six
years.
With a meeting dominated by the global financial crisis, the initiative is aimed at
protecting the bloc of 10 nations from future economic turmoil.
But it could also distract ASEAN members from the APC proposal floated by Mr Rudd
last year.
It is further competition for the APC after the United States recently hinted it may
sign up to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.
Signing up to the treaty is a must for nations who want to join the East Asia
Summit, fuelling speculation the US plans to come on board.
But an expanded East Asia Summit could mean the region won't have any need for the APC.
Malcolm Cook, the East Asia director for the Lowy Institute for International
Policy, told AAP the APC initiative was facing growing competition from existing
regional architecture.
While an APC and EU-style ASEAN were not necessarily mutually exclusive, Dr Cook
said the ASEAN proposal would preoccupy the region over the next six years.
"Clearly if ASEAN is going to come anywhere close to achieving its ambitions, it's
going to take a huge amount of their effort so they will be without a doubt
preoccupied," he said.
When first floating the APC idea, Mr Rudd suggested a timeframe out to 2020.
Over recent months, the government has stressed that its suggestion was not
prescriptive and could evolve from existing regional architecture.
Mr Rudd's special envoy Richard Woolcott - charged with spruiking the plan in the
region - is due to report to the government soon on the region's response to the
idea.
Dr Cook said he had spoken to many of the same players as Mr Woolcott and the
reception to the APC was lukewarm.
"They're certainly giving me the message that there's enough different pieces of the
regional architecture puzzle to take up everyone's time," he said.
