Good times for Asean-US ties

A planned Asean-US summit in September should help to bolster the sometimes shaky relationship

Like middle-aged lovers, Asean and the United States have courted each other for the past 30 years. They have quarrelled and afterwards kissed and made up. But that is all. They have never gone beyond that kind of intimacy. They also have complained a lot about their imperfect relationship. But, in the past few years, they have had an opportunity to look into each other's eyes. Suddenly, they have realised that their relationship has been dour, even sour on occasion, and something needed to done to rejuvenate the friendship. After all, the relationship is now being overshadowed by other more dynamic ties, as each is making new friends in China, Japan and Europe.

So, the announcement by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Washington this week that the first Asean-US summit would take place in September came as very welcome news in the region. As host of the upcoming Asean summit, Singapore wants to ensure that it continues to yield maximum influence on Asean and its external relations.

It was no surprise that the announcement was made during Lee's visit to Washington. It is a reflection of the influence that the United States has on the small island-state, which has become a faithful supporter of American policies, especially in Iraq. Singapore has been one of the most active and forthcoming supporters of the US adventure in Iraq, much more so than the United States' supposed real allies like the Philippines and Thailand. All around the Beltway, Singapore is considered a true strategic partner of the US.

The Asean-US summit comes at a time when Washington needs all the additional friends it can get, both to shore up its image and its diplomatic influence around the world. While the United States is currently trying to find a workable way out of Iraq and the Middle East quagmire, embarking upon a better relationship with Asean can be seen as a sure bet. After all, China has been promoting its ties with Asean over the past decade at the expense of the United States, which has been dominated the region since the end of World War II.

Few people will remember the time, back in early 1995, when Asean chided China for its aggression over Mischief Reef, an incident in the ongoing dispute over sovereignty of the Spratly Islands. Since then, China has treated Asean with respect and as a key player in the regional scheme of things - unlike the United States which, at the time, maintained a somewhat condescending view towards Asean. The outcome is now clear: Chinese-Asean ties are considered the strongest among all the grouping's ties with its dialogue partners.

Given their three-decade-old relationship, it's no surprise that the United States and Asean have already established various mechanisms to enhance cooperation, both in economic and security areas. The United States has initiated various schemes to promote trade and investment as well as to strengthen security cooperation to cope with trans-national issues including terrorism. Both sides have also discussed the possibility of starting negotiations for a free trade agreement. Last year the United States signed a free trade agreement with Singapore. Similar negotiations with Thailand ended disappointingly last year and the ongoing US-Malaysia talks also face difficulties.

It is interesting to note that in the past the US government tended to ignore Asean, thinking that the grouping was small and wielded little international influence. Furthermore, the relationship was strained when Asean admitted Burma - one of the world's most infamous pariah states - to its midst.

Although the US-Asean summit has been agreed upon, there are still a number of protocol-related issues to work on and to be resolved. Obviously the key issue will rest upon who represents Burma at the meeting. To have the Burmese strongman, General Than Swe, sit at the same table as President Bush is, of course, out of the question. It is possible that Burma's representation at the summit will be at the ministerial level. Of course, all these details will be kept secret until the very last moment, lest it jeopardise the whole summit.

Last year, the US Congress passed a law to appoint an Asean ambassador to handle US-Asean relations. This shows that American lawmakers understand the importance of maintaining and improving the long-standing relationship. It is a good start for Asean at 40.