U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

U.S. Department of State

U.S. Engagement in Southeast Asia

Scot A. Marciel, Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs and Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Remarks to Center for Strategic International Studies Meeting on "U.S. and Southeast Asia: Toward a Strategy for Enhanced Engagement"
Washington, DC
September 25, 2008

As prepared for delivery

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The ASEAN region is also of growing political importance. It includes two treaty allies, other valuable security partners, the world's third largest democracy and the world's most populous Muslim majority nation. It sits astride the strategically important Malacca straits. It is the next door neighbor of the rapidly growing powers and economies of China and India. Within Southeast Asia, ASEAN has long played an important – and underappreciated – role in maintaining peace and security. More recently, ASEAN diplomacy was key to convincing Burmese authorities to open the door to critically-needed international assistance following Cyclone Nargis. Beyond Southeast Asia, ASEAN is playing a growing global role. Two ASEAN members currently sit on the UN Security Council, a number of ASEAN countries are contributing troops to peacekeeping operations around the world, and ASEAN members are an important voice on everything from WTO negotiations to non-proliferation efforts.

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When discussing U.S. cooperation and our role in Southeast Asia, I am often asked about how China affects U.S. interests there. China has been much more active politically and diplomatically in recent years. That's a natural result related to China's very rapid economic growth. But the United States does not see this as a zero-sum game. Rather, China is going to have its relations with Southeast Asia, and we will have ours. We want to work with China where we can as a means to advance all of our interests. This is consistent with ASEAN's goals that include good relations with China, the U.S. and other countries that are increasing their engagement in the Southeast Asia region. So rather than worry about what China is doing, we need to stay focused on making sure that we are fully and effectively engaged.

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Burma is a huge challenge for U.S. foreign policy, for ASEAN, and for the wider region. A government that has suppressed democracy, driven down its economy, education system, health care system, and become a pariah, refuses even to engage reasonably with ASEAN. One year ago tomorrow, the authorities there cracked down on peaceful demonstrators, including monks. It is in our interest for Burma to turn around, both because we care about human rights and democracy, and because it is in our interest for this large, strategically located country of 55 million people, not to continue to go downhill, where the risks of instability, violence, and other problems grow.

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- We will continue to work with countries in the region, including ASEAN, China, and others, and through the UN, to encourage the regime to reach out to its own people.

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