U.S. idealism irritates Southeast Asia

U.S. idealism irritates Southeast Asia

By Masaomi Terada

SINGAPORE: An assistant U.S. secretary of state recently
Warren Christopher to shift U.S.-Asian policies. The memo from
Winston Lord has caused a widespread stir, but Asian views about
the United States are along doing an about-face.

Noordin Sopiee, director of the Institute of Strategic and
International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, said the United States has
made human rights and working conditions pillars of its foreign
policies toward Asian countries.

But a house cannot be built on pillars alone, he said at an
international economic seminar in Singapore May 18-19.

Actually, Washington is linking human rights issues in dealing
with rade problems with China and Vietnam, and working conditions
with some other Asian countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia.
However, the U.S. policies are being criticized for delaying
economic development of the region, now dubbed the world's
economic growth center.

On May 17 labor ministers of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations gathered in Singapore to discuss labor problems.
They also expressed their concern about the policies of the
United States and some European countries as they seek
improvement of labor standards in exchange for an expansion of
trade.

The United States has developed itself by turning is different
cultures and people into a source of energy. Likewise, Asian
countries are now building cooperative relations, rising above
differences in their politics, religion and other factors. Their
economic links function as a glue.

These Asian countries also believe that further economic
prosperity of Southeast Asia depends on closer economic ties with
China and Vietnam, although there are some fears and points yet to
be clarified about these countries.

One of such problem involves the Spratly Islands in the South
China Sea over which China is insisting on territorial rights.

Lee Kuan yew, senior minister in the Singaporean government,
said Southeast Asian countries' fears may not be resolved until
China clarifies its long-term policies on the islands.

S. Jayakumar, Singapore's foreign minister, said huge
investments originally intended for Southeast Asia may bypass the
region and go instead to the Chinese and Vietnamese market.

But relations between Southeast Asian countries and China and
Vietnam are improving.

The May 18-19 economic seminar in Singapore was joined by
Deputy Chinese Premier Li Lanqing and Vietnamese Prime Minister
Vo Van Kiet.

One participant commented that the presence of the two was a
kind of miracle, considering hostilities in the region after World
War II.

Meanwhile, Southeast Asian countries are becoming growingly
impatient about he U.S. policies centering on human rights
because they are still too idealistic.

"I see no difference between us and the U.S. we are also trying
had to practice democracy as much as possible through economic
development. But the approach to that goal differs from country
to country. Washington should not interfere in that approach,"
says Surin Maisrikrod, a Thai guest researcher at the Institute
of Southeast Asia Studies Singapore.

The recent caning of an 18-year-old U.S. youth by Singaporean
authorities for vandalism demonstrated their determination that
peace and order was absolutely necessary for economic prosperity
in Singapore.

Their firm conviction has led some Singaporeans to believe
that the major reason he United States is plagued by a large
number of criminal cases is because the nation lacks sufficient
punishments for offenders. Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok
Tong was quoted as saying that in some instances the level of
education in the United States in inferior to those of developing
countries.

Goh was joined by Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar
Ibrahim, who described current developments in the region as an
Asian "renaissance," coming 500 years after Vasco da Gama reached
Asia to pave the way for colonial rule by Western countries. "At
long last, it is the time for us to decide the fate of Asia with
our own hands," he said.

Indonesian Industrial Minister Hartarto Sastrosunarto stressed
the importance of realizing an economic sphere stretching from
South Africa to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,
including India and Australia. His statement meant that ASEAN's
perspective has spread beyond the Pacific to the Indian Ocean.

However, a key to Southeast Asia's future economic prosperity
depends heavily on the U.S. market and its ability to buy Asian
products.

Under the circumstances, these statements by ASEAN leaders can
be viewed as messages to Washington, trying to convey their
wishes to treat their nations on a equal footing. And their
messages are becoming louder year by year.

Japan should also be fully aware of these sentiments on the
part of Asian countries because it will be increasingly called
on to assume a mediation role in such international groupings as
the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

-- The Daily Yomiuri