David Cameron courts south-east Asia for deals on trade, counter-terrorism

[webfact]

David Cameron courts south-east Asia for deals on trade, counter-terrorism
Andrew Osborn

London: British Prime Minister David Cameron wants to use a four-day trade mission to south-east Asia to spur lucrative business deals and to forge new political alliances to counter Islamist extremism.

The trip, which began in earnest on Monday, is expected to take in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, and will be Mr Cameron's first outside Europe since he won an unexpectedly convincing election victory in May.

Mr Cameron, who will travel with a business delegation, has touted the visit as an example of how Britain must expand its trade links with the rest of the world to compensate for its dependence on trade with Europe, parts of which remain mired in an economic funk.

He hopes to use the opportunity to renew his image on the world stage after running an unusually parochial election campaign and presiding over a downgrading of Britain's military and diplomatic muscle during his first term in office.

Full story: http://www.theage.com.au/world/david-cameron-courts-southeast-asia-for-deals-on-trade-counterterrorism-20150727-gil277.html

-- The Age 2015-07-27

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

And he is not visiting the 2nd biggest economy in the region, I wonder why?

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Isn't "counter terrorism" an oxymoron in England and the US? Just asking....

[eliotness]

Could his choice of countries to visit have any significance ? Maybe just building contacts in case the UK votes to leave the EU, but obviously Thailand has nothing to offer the UK in terms of trade deals, maybe because the Chinese, Japanese and Yanks have got the place covered, or maybe DC has been advised to avoid military governments ! I'm sure the vocal posters will have strong opinions either way, but time will tell.

[RuamRudy]

Isn't "counter terrorism" an oxymoron in England and the US? Just asking....

It is a priority of our government in the UK - they use it as an excuse to increase surveilance, justify mass data collection, reduce the rights of the individual to protest or hold 'dangerous' views. The worst of it is that the public seems apathetic - they simply don't care that their civil liberites are being shredded by the Tories, who are merely continuing with a project that the Labour party started.

[Jim walker]

Who is this David Cameron

[Lissos]

they use it as an excuse...

I see, you and your relatives see,and get,no benefit from Counter Terrorism.

The convenience of that view is that you can have it, while being protected.