Comments on: China + ASEAN + FTA = East Asian Unification? Not Quite (Part II)

By: Australian PM’s Flight of Fancy | Southeast Asia

Australian PM’s Flight of Fancy | Southeast Asia — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:58:40 +0000

[...] By the turn of the century, the deeply pragmatic ASEAN states came to the realization that it was impossible to push Western powers out of the region, so it began what was termed, “constructive engagement”. Under this policy, ASEAN intends to hedge its relationship with the larger powers (China, India, America, and Australia) as an intermediary, reaping the benefits for its member states. Singapore Minister of Foreign Affairs George Yeo, speaking for ASEAN to the press in November 2007, described the importance of this policy to Southeast Asia, especially in regard to the United States: “In short, no major strategic issue in Asia can be resolved without the active participation of the U.S” (Marciel 2008). [...]

By: U.S. Expands Trade in Southeast Asia to Check China | Southeast Asia

U.S. Expands Trade in Southeast Asia to Check China | Southeast Asia — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:45:39 +0000

[...] I wrote previously about America’s need to improve its position in Southeast Asia: [...]

By: Myanmar: Time to untangle Aung San Suu Kyi From Political Reform? | Southeast Asia

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:52:54 +0000

[...] Even in the U.S., the Obama Administration is reviewing America’s Myanmar Policy, but the U.S. also has concerns about China’s growing power in Southeast [...]