THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH SINGAPORE FM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002707 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR D AND EAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2027 TAGS: ASEAN ETRD PREL EXBS SN SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH SINGAPORE FM YEO Classified By: Classified by: CDA Paul Jones, reasons 1.4 c, d ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo des the United States' role in the region as a quiet balancing force, inter only as necessary and offering symbolic support for ASEAN, during a bil meeting with Deputy Secretary Negroponte at the ASEAN Regional Forum (A August 1 meetings in Manila. ASEAN member countries are making economi political gains, although some, such as Vietnam, are progressing more q than others like Indonesia and Burma. Bilateral relations between the Singapore remain strong. Regional trade initiatives and market unifica plans are progressing slowly, but more needs to be done push those goal forward, Yeo added. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) The Deputy Secretary commented that much progress had been achi the region, and within ASEAN, over the years since he served as ambassa Manila in 1993-96. He attended an ASEAN meeting in Manila in 1981 and that then they were not talking about a unified market in 2015. Foreig Minister Yeo responded that the ASEAN nations have come together, "not love, but out of fear." ¶3. (C) FM Yeo stated that this multilateral cooperation is a necessity the rise of Indian and Chinese power; ASEAN members decided they would as a coalition. The Deputy Secretary responded that the coalition is a thing and asked about the U.S. role in ASEAN's development. FM Yeo sai the United States should support regional consolidation efforts, but do have to be as active in the region as it had in the past. Rather, the should be ready to intervene when needed. Yeo stressed that the U.S. ro should be supportive in selective situations, and suggested that, when intervenes, it does so "in a nice way." He stressed again that as Chin India increasingly become factors in the region, the U.S. should serve balancing force. ¶4. (C) As country coordinator within ASEAN, Foreign Minister Yeo said Singapore strongly defended the U.S. when A/S Hill was unable to attend dialogue meeting in Washington in June. ASEAN members were also disapp when Summit talks with President Bush were postponed. Yeo acknowledged Secretary's need to be engaged in the Middle East this week. However, SIPDIS suggested that the U.S. make symbolic gestures to demonstrate its inter ASEAN. The Deputy Secretary responded that ASEAN is important and that U.S. is sincere in its support and interest. He noted that the postpon events is not an indication that the U.S. is ambivalent about the regio two agreed that the U.S. would continue to show its support and that th make efforts to capitalize on official visits to the region. ¶5. (C) FM Yeo asked what message the United States would like to conve meeting with ASEAN Ministers. The Deputy Secretary responded that he w like to relay a message of reassurance, commitment, presence, and inter called the region an "oasis of tranquility." Yeo agreed, noting that S Asia must hold together and remain a neutral platform. ASEAN MEMBERS PROGRESSING AT DIFFERENT RATES ¶6. (C) The Deputy Secretary asked about the individual progress of oth members. Foreign Minister Yeo noted the progress Vietnam has made. He speculated that in 50 years Vietnam may be the strongest member of ASEA Indonesia, on the other hand, is a hard-working nation, but does not ha internal capacity to become a similar success. Indonesia is crippled b lack of infrastructure and prevalent corruption. The Deputy Secretary that the current Indonesian government is the most effective yet. FM Y agreed, but lamented that it is poorly structured with too much power a administrative capabilities. Because so many officials have veto power corruption has spread throughout the government. The Deputy Secretary that Indonesia also has a large and growing population. Foreign Minist quipped that Indonesia is "growing by one Singapore a year." ¶7. (C) FM Yeo characterized as "good" a recent meeting about human rig concerns between Burma's Foreign Minister Nien Win and EAP DAS Eric Joh Beijing and noted, as an aside, that ASEAN had created a human rights b averred that Burma has never been an obstruction to ASEAN. While he wa hopeful that Burma would open its market in the near future, he suggest the government has taken some promising steps. It held a constitutiona convention and will draft its main constitutional points within the nex months. In his view, Burma is "inching forward." The fact remains, ho that the back and side gates of Burma are open to China and India, and Burma remains a strategic imperative. FM Yeo noted that positive thing happening along the Burmese/Thai border, but that China is powering Bur economy. BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH SINGAPORE REMAIN STRONG ¶8. (C) FM Yeo pointed out the large American business presence in Sing (more than 10,000 U.S. companies) and said that the American School the MANILA 00002707 002 OF 002 the largest in the world. The Deputy Secretary thanked Singapore for be shepherd in the region over the last year. The Deputy Secretary commen that, if ASEAN adopts a unified currency, Singapore might be the gold s Foreign Minister Yeo jested that Singapore would rather keep a low prof THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM ¶9. (C) The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) has been in existence for 15 yea The Deputy Secretary suggested that it is time to review the organizati goals so it can move forward. As regional priorities have changed, ARF to become more relevant. Yeo stated that ARF will include Bangladesh a Lanka, but he would like to see a moratorium on new members. He does n ARF to open membership further to Central Asian nations. U.S./ASEAN MARKET COOPERATION ¶10. (C) The Deputy Secretary reminded Foreign Minister Yeo that the U. remains a huge market for consumer products and that, in this regard, t can help the region move toward a unified market. The two also briefly discussed the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA),a year-o agreement intended to strengthen trade and investment ties between the ASEAN. The Deputy Secretary asked whether it is active. Yeo responded is moving slowly and that ASEAN is approaching it in a practical way. H TIFA facilitates cooperation in areas like sanitary and phytosanitary i and standards. ¶11. (C) The Deputy Secretary concluded the discussion by recounting th history of ASEAN's formation and noting his own long service in the reg his view, ASEAN represents an interesting and logical evolution. He lik ASEAN to the Treaty of Rome and noted the success of Europe 50 years la Yeo urged the Deputy Secretary to recount his historical perspective wh meets with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and to stress U.S. interest in r success. ¶12. (U) August 1, 2007 ; TIME 08:00; Manila, Philippines. ¶13. (U) Meeting Participants: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte Kaye Lee, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State Ted Wittenstein, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State Jack Andre, Staff, EAP/Regional and Security Policy Affairs Mireille Zieseniss, Notetaker Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo Peter Ho, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jacky Foo, Director/ASEAN Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Simon Tensing De Cruz, Director/Special Duties, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chua Ying Ying, Deputy Director, ASEAN Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chi Chiew Sum, Special Assistant to the Foreign Minister Tracy Tam, Desk Officer, ASEAN Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs JONES