N.Z. outranks Aust, in Singapore’s eyes

Press, 12 February 1979, Page 23

N.Z. outranks Aust, in Singapore’s eyes

NZPA Singapore The Foreign Minister of Singapore (Mr Smnathamby Rajaratnam) has compared Australia’s relations with Singapore unfavourably with those between the island State and New Zealand. “Singapore-New Zealand relations are very good and based on mutual understanding and trust,” he said.

“Our relations have been very cordial. . . All small problems between us have been resolved satisfactorily when they have arisen. We wish our relations with your neighbours were just as good.” Mr Rajaratnam said that the Australian method of negotiating the new international aviation policy it intends to introduce was “obnoxious.”

He said that the Association of South-East Asian Nations (A.S.E.A.N.) was loath to take trade retaliation against Australia in response to the aviation policy, “but if they push us by obduracy we must move. I see no reason why New Zealand should not get the benefit.

“If Australia follows a policy that there is no room on the economic lifeboat for anyone else, it will establish a new course we will all regret at some time.”

Mr Rajaratnam said that if A.S.E.A.N. got Australia to modify its stand New Zealand might be helped. “We are fighting protectionism and if Australia concedes our point New Zealand can use that as a basis for the future,” he said. Singapore saw Australia’s new aviation policy as one intended to

“knock out”- small airlines. Mr Rajaratnam said that he believed regional events were moving in A.S.E.A.N.’s favour. Solidarity and cohesion in A.S.E.A.N. were much better, and this could be compared with the conflicts and contradictions in the communist world. “A.S.E.A.N. ■ countries are doing well economically by comparison with the communist countries, and this is indicated by the flight path of refugees,” he said. He said that A.S.E.A.N.was two generations ahead of the communist countries of the region in economic development, and the countries of the grouping should consolidate “so that we are in a better position to meet new challenges when they occur.” A.S.E.A.N. solidarity had stood the countries of the grouping and Australia and New Zealand well twice in the past — after the end of the war in Vietnam and after Vietnamese troops overran Kampuchea — and it was because this solidarity was significant that A.S.E.A.N. was annoyed when a friendly country tried to “split us.”

Referring to the Kampuchean invasion, Mr Rajaratnam said he did not think the Vietnamese would have time to think of more adventurism. “I think the Vietnamese have created their own ‘Vietnam’ in Kampuchea” he said. “Guerrilla warfare is very expensive and the Vietnamese haven’t much fat to see them through. It could be a long war and

they could bleed very much.”

He said that he doubted the Chinese would invade Vietnam, although they might respond to the Kampuchean invasion in ways which Would pin down Vietnamese troops on Vietnam’s northern border. New Zealand and Australia should work with A.S.E.A.N. to improve its economic and political position, as they were part of the regional scene. “If you work with us, short of an accident, I am not pessimistic that subversion will . be very successful.”

Mr Rajaratnam said that he believed there would be an A.S.E.A.N. summit meeting later this year to talk about the grouping’s new direction. This Heads of Government meeting would probably be devoted to the question of “jelling” economic development. The ‘ drift was towards closer cooperation on - economic matters, but “it is not moving fast enough.”

Asked whether the New Zealand and Australian Prime Ministers might be invited to attend the summit, he said it might be more fruitful to invite them to a subsequent meeting — “when the economic scene is healthier.”