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Published on September 10, 2007

Bush went out of his way to woo Asean leaders at the Apec meeting in Sydney, which was a smart thing to do. Bush knew he had disappointed them in the past. Earlier he had postponed a meeting with all Asean leaders that was scheduled to take place last Wednesday in Singapore, blaming the crisis in Iraq and the Middle East. So it was natural that he ended up inviting Asean leaders to his Texas ranch for a meeting, an invitation normally reserved for close allies.

His invitation also extended to Burmese leaders, who were targets of his criticism during the Apec trip. Bush branded them as tyrannical and condemned their crackdown on peaceful demonstrators. Details have yet to be worked out as to who would represent Burma if Rangoon accepts the invitation. This represents a new diplomatic approach toward Asean, similar to that of the EU. From now on, the US will engage with Asean members individually, as well as a group. In the past, the US was recalcitrant when it came to dealing with Asean as a group, because of Burma's intransigence. Now, although Washington is more vocal against Burma, it is also engaging the Burmese junta face-to-face diplomatically.

Under these circumstances, Bush has begun to appreciate Asean as a grouping of friends, even if it contains a bad egg or two. Washington's new wisdom is quite clear: it is better to live with Asean than disregard the group, as had been the practice previously. The stakes are high because a failure to forge better relations with Asean would weaken the US's overall position in Asia, especially Southeast Asia.

At a time when China is rising rapidly the US cannot afford to lose any of its political and security clout over here. To maintain its pre-eminent position in the region, the US has to strengthen its ties with Asean.

That has been China's strategy ever since the grouping issued a hostile statement at Beijing's behaviour over Mischief Reef in March 1995. By acknowledging Asean as a regional player with its own niche and powers through the accession of a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in 2003, China increased the grouping's overall clout. In turn, it helps promote Beijing's regional policies and integration. The region-wide Asean Regional Forum has become a playground for their common endeavours on political and security issues. After the economic crisis, China's first emergency loan to Thailand and Indonesia also heralded the country's willingness to provide financial assistance.

Therefore, it was wise for Bush to take up the initiative put forward by Senator Richard Lugar, who proposed the appointment of a US ambassador to Asean last November. That would place the US ahead of everyone. His gesture was timely because Asean leaders will soon agree to set up a permanent representative system in Jakarta, where the Asean Secretariat is located. Drafters of the Asean charter are meeting in Chiang Mai today and tomorrow to work out the rights and duties of these permanent representatives. Through this system, representatives from Asean and dialogue partners would be accredited to the secretariat. Meetings and discussions would be carried out at the secretariat. With more than 700 meetings annually, a fixed location would also save time and money.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has been expressing more interest in Asean these days. She has missed two out of the three Asean ministerial meetings that have taken place since she took up her post in 2005. Apparently she wants to make up with Asean. She has already requested a meeting with Asean foreign ministers in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where they will meet to vet the draft Asean charter.

It must be noted that the increased interest from the US and its willingness to accommodate comes at a time when the EU has gained a strong foothold in Asean. Following France, the EU will sign a TAC with Asean when Asean and EU troika leaders have their first commemorative summit on November 22 in Singapore. Asean is hoping that the US will sign a TAC very soon. The EU, which holds an annual summit meeting with both China and India, has expressed a desire to institutionalise the summit meeting with Asean. That will leave the US as the only country without the so-called Asean-plus-one summit meeting.

There are good reasons for major powers to approach Asean as it moves toward having a charter. Former Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan, who has been designated as the next Asean secretary-general starting in January, has already generated excitement pertaining to the future direction of Asean and its engagement with dialogue partners and beyond. With a legal identity, Asean members can now talk about their shared values and norms - limited as they are.

 Kavi Chongkittavorn