Look beyond China for ecomonic partners, SEA nations urged

Look beyond China for ecomonic partners, SEA nations urged
By PAUL CHOO, The Star
Tuesday June 3, 2008

 

 

PETALING JAYA:

South-East Asian countries should not let its economic relationship with China stop it from looking for new partners, said Prof Bronson Percival, senior adviser for South-East Asia at the Centre for Strategic Studies, CNA Corporation.

 

He stressed that while China may had evolved from its confrontational image to an “accommodating friendly elephant??? in wooing the countries, there were different parts to the relationship.

 

“Malaysia will not be as close to China compared to its neighbour for several reasons”- PROF BRONSON PERCIVAL

He noted that while China held a significant amount of investment power, the United States, Japan and Europe remained top investors in the region.

“Investments by China in SEA is still very, very limited compared to these countries, which is why SEA countries should always turn to different partners for different purposes.

“No ‘contract’ is signed to prevent this,??? said Prof Percival.

Prof Percival is the author of a book on the implications of China’s rise to South-East Asia.

He was speaking at a public lecture on China and South-East Asia: A Courtship, not a Marriage yesterday attended by more than 100 people at the Cybertorium of Menara Star, here.

Organised by The Star and Asian Centre for Media Studies (ACMS), the session was chaired by Prof Lee Poh Ping of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Institute of International and Malaysian Studies while The Star’s associate editor Bunn Nagara participated as a discussant.

To a query from Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia Helena Sangeland on Thailand and Malaysia’s ties with China, Prof Percival said:

“There is a debate whether Malaysia or Thailand has a closer trade relationship with China.

“Both countries accept the rise of China, want to establish a large trade relationship and both are middle-income countries looking for niches within the larger Asian economy.

“But Malaysia will not be as close to China compared to its neighbour because of several reasons,??? he said.

Another question by Swiss Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Urs Stemmler was whether the toll on China’s environment as a result of its booming development would affect SEA countries.

To this, Prof Percival said that such concerns could arise in the future.

Also present at the event were Utar council chairman Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and The Star’s group editorial/education adviser Datuk Ng Poh Tip.