ASEAN is urged to stay on course of cooperation with other regions even as US and China relations are causing divisions among countries in a world that does not need a new cold war era.
This was stressed by Jeffrey D. Sachs Director, Sustainable Development Solutions Network, on the topic “Asean’s Challenges in a New Geopolitical Era”, during its 18th Management Association of the Philippines International CEO Web Conference 2020 on theme “Whole New World: Reigniting the Stalled Global Economy”.
He said that a strong ASEAN, which can be a strong partner for the European Union, or the United States, or China are strong voices to tell the US and China that they are against any cold war.
“You want cooperation on all sides so that we can solve these global problems. We do not choose between US and China. I believe also that it would be very important for ASEAN to convey this spot, not only to the United States and China, but also to the European Union. The European Union also does not want to choose between the United States and China. Nobody wants to choose between the two other than in the nationalist or hyper nationalist vision of Trump and his cronies,” he pointed out.
Division, he said, will also diminish the chance for economic recovery for everyone. “Whereas if we have cooperation, we can actually get something done,” he said.
Sachs recalled that the proposed Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which excludes China, only creates complication when what the world needs is cooperation. The New York based expert called the TPP of the US “incredibly stupid” for trying to exclude China, the largest economy in Asia. He called the TPP a “fantasy and a very dangerous one” especially for America. The Trump administration, however, abandoned the TPP, proposed by the previous administration.
“How could you have an economic partnership that did not include the largest economy of Asia,” he said which he attributed to the “special kind of arrogance, which is American arrogance, to believe in such an idea.” TPP is a proposed trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the US.
“That leads to having harsh relations with China, it can get countries to line up with the United States, oppose China, and ensure American hegemony globally. The last thing the world needs is a cold war between the US and China. We don’t want a cold war,” said Sachs in the webinar attended by international resource persons including international human rights counsel Atty. Amal Alamuddin Clooney.
Instead, he said, what is necessary is to create global cooperation with Europe, China, Japan, Korea, the United States, as partners of ASEAN without a new global division. He cited the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as especially important for ASEAN countries, because the economic relations with China are of the utmost importance for all of the goals like the Belt and Road initiative, which he said is of strategic benefit if carried out properly in a sustainable development.
“We are living in a very dangerous period where we need to think and plan rationally. We need to stop the human made environmental disasters. And we need global and regional geopolitical cooperation,” said the public policy analyst and academician.
Sachs further criticized the Trump administration’s policy against doing business with China.
“The United States is telling countries and Asean don't buy Chinese equipment. Don't buy Chinese technology, don't participate in the Belt & Road Initiative. All of this is nonsense and harmful and really should be answered with a very clear message ‘Do not make us choose’,” he added.
While the US and China are at odds, Sachs reiterated his call for Asean to adapt cooperation as a strategy with all regions. “China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand to work together to reopen trade and movement of people within the RCEP 15 country region,” he said.
He urged to accelerate regional cooperation by opening trade, tourism, movement of people within the 15 country region, based on the success of all 15 countries in suppressing the pandemic.