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Asean needs a more active strategy to head off a US-China conflict
The search for security beyond alliance frameworks is an essential topic for the upcoming rounds of summits
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For Asean, while China is far more important to them economically than the US, they want neither war, in which they would be collateral casualties, nor Chinese hegemony.
PHOTO: AFP
James Curran
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Speaking last week at the Asean roundtable hosted by the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan reminded both Beijing and Washington of a few home truths
“We are not interested in dividing lines in Asia,’‘ he said. “Don’t make us choose. We will refuse to choose.”
