Potential for Asian conflict ‘very real’

Press, 19 August 1981, Page 10

Potential for Asian conflict ‘very real’

The potential for the struggle between Russia and China to be realised on Asian soil is very real, according to Dr Evelyn Colbert, a former United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific.

She spoke at a meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Institute of International Affairs about American policies towards Asia and the Pacific under the Reagan Administration.

She said that while the United States had had no big policy changes on East Asia since President Reagan had assumed office, some problems lay ahead, particularly

regarding the fear that China might be a threat in the region. The American attitude to China was a new feature of United States foreign policy, with parallels between American-and Chinese interests and joint recognition of the Soviet threat. Dr Colbert said, “But the turning point came with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan during the Carter Administration.

“President Reagan's Administration’s move was the next logical step in the process already under way in ■the previous ■ Administration.' “Every Administration’; in

the United States has to feel that it is seen to be introducing a new era, with new policies overturning the decisions of the previous Administration.

“It seems to take about a year for things to settle down and then we can see that things are not so different after all and that the new era claimed by the new Administration has not eventuated after all.”

Dr Colbert said that there seemed to be a change of government in the United States nearly every four years. Yet in spite of these political upheavals, there was still continuity in policies.