Malaysia scolds U.S. for refusing EAEC<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Washington was lambasted yesterday by
\nKuala Lumpur for rejecting the East Asian Economic Caucus even
\nbefore listening to the views of East Asian nations.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Foreign Minister Abdulah Ahmad said the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which had endorsed the Kuala
\nLumpur-initiative, would meet East Asian countries soon on the
\nEAEC's formation.<\/p>\n
"When all the East Asian countries have stated their views,
\nthen the other countries can give their comments," Abdullah said.<\/p>\n
ASEAN had planned to invite Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and
\nChina as the caucus' core members, officials said.<\/p>\n
Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had on the weekend
\nasked Malaysia to spearhead ASEAN's bid to get the EAEC off the
\nground by renewing efforts to woo Japan, whose membership is
\ncrucial for a successful take-off.<\/p>\n
"Malaysia will have to be the prime moving force of the EAEC
\nsince the idea came from (Malaysian Prime Minister) Dr Mahathir
\nMohamad," Goh was yesterday quoted in local newspapers as saying
\nwhen on a weekend visit to a dam project in Johore.<\/p>\n
Loose forum<\/p>\n
Mahathir had initiated the formation of the EAEC in December
\n1990 as a loose forum for East Asian economies that would exclude
\nWashington, prompting U.S. opposition to the proposal on grounds
\nit was a budding trade bloc.<\/p>\n
"It would be to ASEAN's interest to talk to Japan again on the
\nEAEC," Goh said, when asked to respond to recent reports that
\nWashington, under U.S. President Bill Clinton, had rejected the
\nEAEC.<\/p>\n
A Kyodo news agency report on June 7 said a U.S. official had
\ninformed Japan that the Clinton administration, which was earlier
\nseen as being less hostile than its predecessor towards the
\ncaucus, had also rejected the proposal.<\/p>\n
Following the reports, Malaysia had vowed to resort to a
\nconcerted bid by ASEAN, which groups Malaysia with Singapore,
\nBrunei, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, to thwart
\nWashington's opposition the EAEC.<\/p>\n
Goh said ASEAN would have to agree on a position to try to
\nexplain to Washington that the EAEC was a caucus of Asians within
\nthe Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.<\/p>\n
APEC groups ASEAN with the United States and 10 other
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
"The EAEC is not in conflict with APEC at all. It is
\nconsistent with APEC," Goh said.<\/p>\n
Malaysian International Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz,
\ncommenting on the resignation on the weekend of Japanese Prime
\nMinister Tsutomu Hata, said ASEAN would brief the new Japanese
\ngovernment when it is formed on the workings of the EAEC.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-scolds-us-for-refusing-eaec-1447893297",
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