Italian minister calls for Asian security framework<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Visiting Italian Minister of Defense Beniamino
\nAndreatta suggested yesterday a formal security agreement between
\nAsian nations, to create a concrete multilateral security
\nframework in the region.<\/p>\n
Andreatta, visiting Indonesia after last week's ASEAN-European
\nUnion foreign minister's meeting in Singapore, said the
\nestablishment of a formal security institution would ensure
\nsecurity in Asia.<\/p>\n
"The idea is that the security problems should be addressed by
\nall the major powers collectively in an inclusive multilateral
\nframework, rather than by exclusive institutions each
\nunilaterally geared to impose its interests on the other,"
\nAndreatta said.<\/p>\n
Andreatta was speaking at the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies yesterday, in a lecture titled Euro-Asian
\nSecurity: A European Perspective.<\/p>\n
Andreatta suggested a "concert of powers" system be
\nestablished in Asia, in a fashion loosely based around the
\nCongress System established in Europe after the Congress of
\nVienna in the 19th Century.<\/p>\n
Andreatta described the question of China as "the key to Asian
\nsecurity", and argued the best course in meeting China's
\nunpredictability was to engage and not isolate it from the
\ninternational system.<\/p>\n
"This means that China should be involved in regional
\ndecisions in an institutional process which like Europe's OSCE
\n(Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe), involves
\nall the countries in the region."<\/p>\n
The existence of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was brushed
\naside by Andreatta: "Organizations like Asia-Pacific Economic
\nCooperation or the ASEAN Regional Forum are either not universal
\nin their regional membership or they are not concerned with
\nsecurity matters."<\/p>\n
The ARF is hosted by members of the Association of Southeast
\nAsian Nations (ASEAN) and brings together its dialog partners,
\nobservers and consultative partners in an annual security
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines,
\nSingapore, Thailand and Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Andreatta said a concert system which included China was a
\nmore attractive option than the creation of a system of mutually
\nrestraining alliances.<\/p>\n
China was too powerful and only by having a coalition of all
\nmedium-sized powers with the full and active backing of the
\nUnited States could the alliance hope to compete, Andreatta said.<\/p>\n
The creation of such an alliance, Andreatta added, could be
\nperceived negatively and only serve to spur a negative reaction
\nfrom China. A security alliance could also be a destabilizing
\nfactor and detrimental to the region's rapid economic growth, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
While ASEAN members have solidified cooperation in the
\neconomic and social sphere, they have tended to shy away from
\nformal military arrangements; ASEAN has instead opted for
\nbilateral security arrangements.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the largest ASEAN member, is opposed to the
\nformation of military pacts. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/italian-minister-calls-for-asian-security-framework-1447893297",
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