- By Ranger, Thai Intel’s political journalist
A few yars ago, Hillary, the US Secretary of State, visited ASEAN-and said the USA have re-target ASEAN for more focus. Not long after that, the CIA, was quoted, to have said, “The next decade, belongs to ASEAN, China and India.
Since then, as Hillary has stated, the USA has re-energised its activity in ASEAN. But the challenge to the USA is, off course, China that is also highly active in ASEAN.
The latest news, according to the following State Department press release, is that Hillary’s assistant, has left for Europe to discuss Asia Pacific.
For ASEAN and Europe, themselves, if Thai Intel is not mistaken, this year is called the ASEAN-EU year of “Creativity and Innovation” where a few years back, Indonesia began stressing the “Creative Economy Concept” and that was very much followed by Thailand, under the previous prime minister of Abhisit-who also called for a “Thailand Creative Economy.”
Security wise, Reuters recently did an extensive report on the arms build-up in ASEAN-however, the Reuters report said the build-up is not an arms race-but a natural reaction from the Chinese claims on the Pacific resources, and also, on the back of a stronger economic growth. According to Reuters, ASEAN have proved to be a lucrative market for Western arms makers-both EU and USA-with also Russia, playing a significant part.
- The following is from a USA State Department press release:
Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell’s Travel to Brussels and London February 21 – February 23, 2012
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
February 17, 2012
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt M. Campbell will travel to Brussels and London February 21 – 23, 2012.
Assistant Secretary Campbell will depart for Brussels on February 21, arriving on February 22. While there, he will meet with EU Political and Security Committee ambassadors as well as officials from the European External Action Service to exchange views on the Asia-Pacific region and discuss ways to increase U.S.-EU cooperation in the region. He will continue on to London where he will discuss the Asia-Pacific region and increasing cooperation with senior British government officials.
Assistant Secretary Campbell will depart from London for Washington, DC on February 23.
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