Regional tensions top ASEAN summit agenda

Regional tensions have been at the top of the agenda at the ASEAN summit in the US.

[edgarvibar]

Strange how ASEAN could never quite get its act together and become a cohesive regional block. For one thing, the disunity among ASEAN members is caused by the meddling of one or two members in the domestic affairs of others. The Philippines in particular stands out in this respect. Manila meddles in Malaysian politics by supporting Anwar Ibrahim and his wife. Manila also meddled in Indonesian affairs by providing safe haven and support for East Timor separatists back in the 1990s. During the gruesome Vietnam War, Filipinos were widely employed in US military installations in South Vietnam as spies and propagandists. To this day, the Philippines has never given up on its attempts to annex North Borneo from Malaysia. Even Brunei has always kept a wary eye on the designs and schemes of Manila. To make things worse, the Philippines has been persecuting its Muslim minorities in the south, giving rise to militant Islamic insurgency and extremism. With a neighbor like the Philippines sowing discord and causing trouble for the rest of ASEAN, no wonder the other 9 member-countries deeply distrust the Philippines. With a member like the Philippines in ASEAN, always coveting thy neighbor's property and worshiping a false idol called Uncle Sam, peace and unity will forever remain a distant dream in Southeast Asia.

[theguyisinthailand]

If Russia held a 'Caribbean Summit' in 1960 to outline politics to deal with US dominance in the Region- how would the US have responded?
The US backed dictators in SE Asia, took over drug routes & directly killed millions...do ya think this has been forgotten?
'Saving Face' is the only rule to be remembered when dealing with Asians- Allow others to have an out & stand up to save an issue/belief.
Free Trade can never happen because making a profit on a deal is 'Saving Face'...unless you work for the White House and then it's 'top down' control of an economy.