EDITORIAL

Asean’s role in the Trump-Kim summit

By The Nation

 

PM Prayut’s ill-chosen words notwithstanding, the choice of Singapore to host the event was a triumph for all in this region

 

The choice of Singapore to host an historical summit between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim jong-un next month should not be cause for envy in other Southeast Asian capitals.

 

On the contrary, because the city-state holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, its fellow members should be fully supportive. Singapore’s role, however passive it is in relation to the negotiations, will do much to show the world how central the region is to global affairs.

 

President Trump revealed last week that he would meet his North Korean counterpart in Singapore on June 12 after the White House deemed the city-state neutral and amply secure to host the event.

 

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha interpreted the announcement somewhat differently. Rather than congratulating Singapore’s premier, he told reporters the city-state was chosen over Thailand because it is peaceful and people there respect the law. It was hardly the message he should have been conveying.

 

Regardless of earlier speculation that Bangkok might get to host the summit, Prayut’s comments showed ill sprit and further debased his administration. Is he so obsessed with his own problems that he fails to understand the global context and Thailand’s place in it?

 

Foremost in his mind should have been the fact that Singapore is Asean chair this year, and second, that Singapore’s selection gives Asean a more significant role in resolving the problem on the Korea Peninsula. This was a role it collectively coveted and that Trump actively promoted.

 

As well, Thailand chaired the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) in 2000, when North Korea was accepted as a member. Other than the United Nations, the ARF is the only international forum that gives both the US and North Korea the opportunity to discuss security matters, including Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.

 

North Korea’s distance from Southeast Asia has never diminished our region’s interest in engaging with it and assisting where it can. North Korea’s problems are our problems. We have strong business ties – and we allow its defectors to come here on their way to other countries. 

 

With the Trump-Kim meeting a month away, Asean leaders should be discussing ways to help Singapore not just facilitate the summit but also ensure that it yields positive results. If peace and prosperity are the outcomes, they will spread from the Korean Peninsula across all of Asia and beyond.

 

While Kim and Trump conduct their talks according to their own tactics and respective national interests, Asean as the host needs to help make the summit proceed as smoothly as possible. 

 

The meeting cannot be oversimplified as a bilateral matter. Seoul is naturally deeply interested, and previously as many as six countries have been involved in efforts to ease tensions between the Koreas, the others being China, Russia and Japan.

 

Those nations are still keen to help find a solution. Kim has already met with Moon Jae-in of South Korea and Xi Jinping of China and will likely also wish to sit down with Shinzo Abe of Japan.

 

In the meantime Asean, through Singapore, is already in the thick of the latest thrust, and its choice as the locale does the bloc great credit. Asean has a broader dream – to sit at the core of Asia’s security architecture. Now we have a window of opportunity for the group to realise that goal.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30345397

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-15

26 minutes ago, webfact said:

show the world how central the region is to global affairs.

huh ? trump only knows where thailand even is due to the relative proximity to the troublesome N Korea; most usa citizens believe thailand and taiwan to be the same

28 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha interpreted the announcement somewhat differently. Rather than congratulating Singapore’s premier, he told reporters the city-state was chosen over Thailand because it is peaceful and people there respect the law.

i, as a resident here in thailand, respect the law; due to the value such respect for law and order represents; can't say, tho, i see that in the others around me

34 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

i, as a resident here in thailand, respect the law; due to the value such respect for law and order represents; can't say, tho, i see that in the others around me

Starting with those in charge...

Another good article from the Nation,surprisingly based on past affiliations, growing bigger balls or they know the current administration is on the back foot.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha interpreted the announcement somewhat differently.

 

The irony of anyone holding a peace summit with a dictatorial regime here in Thailand is totally lost on this man.

 

However, Kim Jung-un's uncle and brother won't be attending due to family issues. . .   

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Regardless of earlier speculation that Bangkok might get to host the summit, Prayut’s comments showed ill sprit and further debased his administration. Is he so obsessed with his own problems that he fails to understand the global context and Thailand’s place in it?

"...Regardless of earlier speculation that Bangkok might get to host the summit...?"

 

Where exactly did this 'speculation' originate? As near as I can tell, the only 'speculation' that I saw was Prawit having a wet dream. Did the Junta seriously think that they would be chosen to host a summit of international importance? A military coup government? 

 

The level of mis-guidedness is a bit scary...

 

Let me say to Thailand's current rulers; if you want to have international respect, you have to follow international norms and practices. That means free association, free speech, keeping your word, no more 'attitude adjustment', free and fair elections, a demand-responsive administration, personal integrity, a government generally free of corruption, etc, etc, etc.

 

Does the current Thai government met the test laid out in the paragraph above? No.

 

If I may paraphrase the "Soup Nazi" character from Seinfeld , "No Summit For You!".

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Prayut’s comments showed ill spirit and further debased his administration.

A display of unstatesmanlike and immature petulance on the international stage presumably because his sidekick Prawit and Thailand were not the chosen ones. Totally cringeworthy; I feel embarrassed for the people of Thailand. 

Congratulations Singapore!

Thailand should be happy it's got some role to play on the world stage. Regular encounters between middle eastern tourists and Pattaya ladyboys may not be in the same league as a Trump-Kim summit, but their valuable contribution towards cooling tensions in the arab world can't be denied.

Prayut cry-baby.

Wah! Cry! Sob!

Not surprised with words from thick skin individuals who doesn't know the word shame.

2 hours ago, Thailand said:

Another good article from the Nation,surprisingly based on past affiliations, growing bigger balls or they know the current administration is on the back foot.

Yes but for how much longer? The change of ownership does not augur well.Meanwhile the courageous and outspoken Bangkok Post editor, Umesh Pandey, has been sacked for drawing attention to the many errors and injustices committed by the military government.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Regardless of earlier speculation that Bangkok might get to host the summit, Prayut’s comments showed ill sprit and further debased his administration. Is he so obsessed with his own problems that he fails to understand the global context and Thailand’s place in it?

YES

Sour grapes.......BTW  USA had nominated thailand as a CIA black site once...