Globalization poses security risks: Forum<\/p>\n
BANGKOK (AP): Countries with defense interests in Asia agreed
\non Thursday that the volatility of the world economy because of
\nglobalization was forcing them to take a broader look at security
\nconcerns.<\/p>\n
Foreign ministers of 23 countries represented in the ASEAN
\nRegional Forum, Asia's largest defense conference, noted in their
\nannual meeting that economic and social issues were increasingly
\nimportant to security.<\/p>\n
Host Thailand, highlighting topics discussed at the forum,
\nsaid in a concluding statement that it was timely to discuss the
\nsecurity implications of globalization.<\/p>\n
\"We have agreed that the nature of security threats has
\nchanged,\" Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan told reporters.<\/p>\n
\"There are more players, more non-state actors,\" Surin
\nremarked. \"High-tech globalization and IT have certainly
\nexacerbated and complicated the problems.\"<\/p>\n
Asia was rocked in 1997 and 1998 by a financial crisis that
\nspread from country to country, partly because of the high-speed
\ntrading done on international currency markets.<\/p>\n
The crisis devastated Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea and
\nundercut other countries that had enjoyed years of booming
\ngrowth.<\/p>\n
Asian economies have largely bounced back and expect a second
\nyear of overall growth.<\/p>\n
China's foreign minister, Tang Jiaxuan, said that the crisis
\nhad left lingering scars and \"adversely affected Asian-Pacific
\nsecurity.\"<\/p>\n
\"Separatist forces are asserting themselves more
\naggressively,\" Tang said in a speech. \"The rich-poor gap is
\nwidening. Ethnic and religious conflicts are cropping up one
\nafter another.\"<\/p>\n
The hardest-hit country has been Indonesia, where long-time
\ndictator Soeharto fell from power in 1998 amid economic near-
\ncollapse from the crisis.<\/p>\n
The new, democratic government of President Abdurrahman Wahid
\nhas been beset since taking office last year with separatist or
\ncommunal violence.<\/p>\n
The ministers agreed in their statement that a united,
\ndemocratic and prosperous Indonesia was \"fundamental\" to regional
\nsecurity.<\/p>\n
The sprawling archipelago of 200 million people straddles
\nglobal shipping lanes and is the largest member of the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations.<\/p>\n
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
\nMyanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN Regional Forum, which inducted North Korea as a
\nmember Thursday, brings in 13 other countries with security
\ninterests in the region, including the United States, Russia and
\nChina.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/globalization-poses-security-risks-forum-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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