S'pore lauds Obama's focus

August 06, 2009

By Shefali Rekhi, Assistant Foreign Editor

SINGAPORE'S Ambassador to the United States has applauded President Barack Obama's greater emphasis on ties with South-east Asia, and said she hopes trade-boosting measures will soon be high on his agenda.

Visits by senior US officials, which saw the signing of a treaty of amity and cooperation, were among steps signalling higher interest in the region, Professor Chan Heng Chee told an audience of diplomats and regional observers at the 2nd Asean Think Tank forum on Wednesday.

The two-day forum, organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA), is holding discussions on Asean's ties with its external partners, including the US and East Asia.

Ties with Asean appeared to take a back seat in Washington in recent years, given China's growing influence and the rise of other Asian powers, as the Bush administration got caught up with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Regional observers have been watching the Obama administration for signs of change. On that score, Prof Chan - who has been the Republic's representative to the US since 1996 - said US plans for a resident mission in Jakarta will have a catalytic effect on ties.

She also noted that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already made two visits to South-east Asia in six months. 'That is unprecedented and tells you about the position of South-east Asia in the Obama administration.'

Mrs Clinton's decision to make Asia her first official overseas destination, and the fact that the trip included a stop in Indonesia, was in itself significant, Prof Chan said.

She noted that it was rare for America's top diplomat to opt to travel first to Asia, pointing out that most of Mrs Clinton's predecessors travelled to Europe or elsewhere on their first trips after a new administration was sworn in.

Mrs Clinton was also back in the region last month to attend the Asean Regional Forum in Phuket. While there, Washington signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with Asean, binding all signatories to respect one another's sovereignty and resolve conflicts peacefully.

She also took the opportunity to clearly state that 'America is back', and followed up her words with actions by holding an unprecedented ministerial meeting with representatives from Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to examine issues surrounding the Mekong region.