COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL ASPAC—THE THIN END OF A POWERFUL WEDGE?

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32323, 15 June 1970, Page 10

COMMENT FROM THE CAPITAL ASPAC—THE THIN END OF A POWERFUL WEDGE?

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C. R. MENTIPLAY,

Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, June 14.—Next Wednesday, the fifth Ministerial meeting of the Asian and Pacific Council (Aspac) will convene in Parliament Buildings, Wellington, under the chairmanship of our Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) in his capacity as New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. 1 This meeting follows nine assemblies of the Standing Committee of Aspac held in Wellington over the last year (the last one was on June 3), in which New Zealand was in the chair.

In the usual pattern of international conferences a new host country will be selected this week, and the Aspac Standing Committee will have another venue for 12 months, New Zealand’s representation being carried out by its diplomatic representative in the area. To the man in the street Aspac may he merely another assemblage of letters in an international quiz game—another grouping to join 5.E.A.T.0., A.N.Z.U.S., and many others. New Zealand has representation in many of these bodies which have been convening all round the globe over the space of a few months. | How does Aspac differ from I other groupings? First, it is la regional association of Asian and Pacific countries entirely without the representation of Powers whose I main commitments lie outside [that area. Aspac brings together nations of varying decrees of development on a , basis of economic, trade, technical, social and cultural cooperation Nine Nations Involved Formed as a development of a suggestion made by the Republic of Korea in September, 1964, the policy of Aspac was largely worked out by ambassadors in Bangkok, under the chairmanship of the Thai Foreign Minister (Thanat Khoman). The first Ministerial meeting was held in Seoul in 1966. Since that meeting there have been three others, but the pattern has not greatly changed. The nine nations involved are: Australia, the Republic of China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the : Philippines, Thailand, and I South Vietnam. Laos has usually sent an observer (but, as a theoretically “neutralised" State, is in a peculiar position). Two notable abstainers ■have been Singapore and Indonesia. This could well have been due to local pressures during the setting-up period. Indonesia has been interested enough to send an observer. Singapore still .stands aloof, and it is understood that Malaysia (owing to internal pressures and other suggested alliances) has some reservations. Cautious Movement The cautious movement of the Aspac concept has brought some criticism—but few people realise how much Aspac differs from other international groupings. No big Powers are represented. The United States. Britain. Communist China, the Soviet | Union, France and the Netherlands have no place in Aspac (though American pressures could be introduced byway of Thailand. South Korea and South Vietnam).

The only member Power which could be dubbed “imperialistic” in Asian eyes is Japan—and the Japanese appearance in regional associations has been awaited with mixed feelings for the last 20 years. It will he remembered that our own A.N.Z.US. understanding with the United States and Australia came about almost entirely as an insurance against a resurgence of Japanese nationalism. Since then, the economic links between Japan and Australia and New Zealand have strengthened tremendously, a;

process which is likely to continue as Britain at last moves decisively towards the European Economic Community. It is an odd fact that the only relic of the old “imperialistic” Powers to be seen on the flagstaffs of Aspac is the Union Jack on the flags of Australia and New Zealand. Those who believe that New Zealand should follow the lead of Canada and choose a flag of its own can argue here ; that while New Zealand carries the Union Jack in its flag ' it may expect to be regarded as a mouthpiece for Britain. Perhaps for us the most important point about Aspac Ils that we and Australia are I in it. Broadly comparable regional organisations (such as [the Association of South-East I Asian Nations) have left JaIpan, Australia and New Zealand out of their enclave. j Anti-Communist? Though Aspac has been attacked for being anti-Com- . munist, it is difficult to see that such criticism is valid. Its membership does include South Korea and South Vietnam—but any other arrangeIment would be clearly impossible in the present situation, and the Republic of China and Communist China would be incompatible at the Aspac table. | No system of collective security or collective defence I has ever been attempted by Aspac. What might happen in the future is not predictable. It is quite apparent, however. I that there is no present or I foreseeable move to turn Aspac into either an enlarged I S.E.A.T.O. or an Asian-Pacific | version of the North Atlantic ! Treaty Organisation. The emphasis remains, as i it was five years ago, on matters of co-operation in trade. ! industry, social, and cultural matters. As stated in a For eign Affairs publication: “The prime concern has been the simple aim of establishing a network of easy multilateral relationships, so that with time and experience, confidence among members will grow, and they will become accustomed to dealing with one another in a friendly and open spirit. “Member States agreed on a number of basic points. They do not intend Aspac to become a military alliance. The organisation will rather advance economic development, increase mutual understanding of one another's cultural background, and embody the joint efforts of member nations in their shared enterprise for peace, progress, and regional well-being."

> In its short history, Aspac I has moved with deceptive > speed on a number of pro- ■ jects. The Registry of Scientific and Technical Services ■ was opened in Canberra in ■ August, 1968. The massive i)six-storey Cultural and Social ■ Centre in Seoul was opened last year. J A Food and Fertiliser Tech- • nology Centre, sponsored by • the Republic of China, opened Jin Taiwan earlier this year. JAn Economic Co-operation .(Centre is being set up in ; Bangkok. A proposal for an i( Aspac Maritime Co-operation Scheme, involving search and ( rescue co-operation, will be - advanced a further stage this . week. New Zealand's year as host -country for the Standing Committee and venue for the Ministerial meeting may be marked by something in the nature of the centres offered by other nations—but even if (this is not so, New Zealand will have contributed fairly heavily with the provision of • technical and advisory staff, 1 and with grants totalling . SIIO,OOO. il The future of Aspac is set •in an Asian time-frame. It ■ is an attempt to proceed with ■ worth - while things, while . keeping away from day-to-day i political and defence presI; sures. For New Zealand it is : an opportunity which has not been neglected.