Time to move on

Time to move on

With the region mired in economic uncertainty, most leaders of
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum were looking to their
annual summit to provide much-needed collective problem-solving.

Instead, like the last gathering, it has been hijacked by
terrorism.

Rather than concentrating their energies on the lifeblood of
Apec economic integration to sustain growth the 21 Pacific rim
heads of state and government gathered at the Mexican resort of
Los Cabos focused on ways to improve security and counter-
terrorism efforts.

Key among these was the United States-drafted Secure Trade in
the APEC region initiative, which aims to enhance security while
increasing trade.

In the immediate wake of the Bali bombings and the hostage
drama at a Moscow theater, it was inevitable that terrorism would
top the agenda. It was a carbon copy of the Shanghai summit,
which took place just a month after the Sept. 11 attacks in New
York and Washington.

Then, as at the weekend, issues such as integration of tariffs
and strengthening trade ties were sidelined.

For nations such as the Philippines and Indonesia, shunned by
international investors because of terrorist threats and attacks,
the opportunity was welcome. Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
and Megawati Soekarnoputri will leave Mexico knowing they have
regional support. North Korea will feel pressure to dismantle its
nuclear weapons program.

But U.S. President George W. Bush and his officials also used
the occasion to lobby for a tough United Nations resolution
against Iraq an issue of no relevance to Apec.

Sept. 11 was a wake-up call to the world and it has since
consumed global gatherings especially those involving the U.S.

Yet the world's superpower is no safer and the terrorism
threat has not diminished. Unemployment continues to rise and
financial markets remain uncertain. Poverty levels are rising.

The discussion of terrorism increases awareness of the threat.

We become less prone to make rash decisions about our safety.

Better surveillance diminishes the risk that we will fall
victim to terrorists.

But the issue must not be all-consuming as it has been for the
past year. The few opportunities leaders of groups such as Apec
have to meet should increasingly be devoted to improving
economies, co-operation and standards.

Leaders owe it to the people they represent.

-- South China Morning Post, Hong Kong