ASEAN must meet its responsibility<\/p>\n
The weekend meeting of the 10 ASEAN foreign ministers is only
\nthe beginning. The region now meets its so-called dialog partners
\nfrom the West and from Asia. Serious and dangerous developments
\nare on the agenda.<\/p>\n
During weekend meetings, ASEAN has discovered its relative
\ngood fortune. While there are risky issues such as the Spratly
\nIslands, the region is almost a zone of peace.<\/p>\n
In the dozen years since Vietnam ended its ill-considered
\nCambodian invasion, ASEAN borders have been among the world's
\nmost untroubled.<\/p>\n
ASEAN members are not without their disagreements, but they
\nhave largely lived up to the goal of coexistence among varied
\npolitical systems.<\/p>\n
This week, ASEAN foreign ministers face a wide range of
\ncontentious issues at the meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum
\n(ARF).<\/p>\n
In twos, threes and large groups, ASEAN members and dialog
\npartners from around the world will be making their points on a
\nwide range of issues.<\/p>\n
It is important that ASEAN ministers take these discussions
\nseriously.<\/p>\n
It would be a disservice to the region and to their own
\ncountries if the region's foreign ministers bow to the temptation
\nof a platitude where honest disagreement is a better option. It
\nis vital that the region air its differences with allies and
\nacquaintances on these issues.<\/p>\n
There are four major issues (aside from the Spratly Islands
\nissue) that should be on every table this week, whether
\nofficially or unofficially. They include what do to about North
\nKorea, the China-Taiwan feud and the Pakistan-India
\nconfrontation.<\/p>\n
ASEAN is involved directly in none of these. But it has an
\nemphatic and overriding interest in the flash point known as the
\nSpratly Islands, where four members contest sovereignty with
\nChina and Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Other issues also will eat into the short time for this week's
\ntalks.<\/p>\n
These include economic policy -- for prosperity is a great aid
\nto security.<\/p>\n
But ASEAN`and partners must address the four violent threats
\nto peace in a frank, effective and rational discussion.
\nOtherwise, the talks are a waste of time.<\/p>\n
-- The Bangkok Post<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asean-must-meet-its-responsibility-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }