Speeches

Amb. Lavin Assesses Roles of China, Islam in Southeast Asia 14 July 2005

Says actions will affect region's economies, civil societies

By Todd Bullock
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- China's emerging role in Southeast Asia and the evolution of political Islam are two forces that will define the future of the region as well as its relationship with the United States, says U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin.

"Within the last five years, exports from Southeast Asian countries to China have increased 40 percent," Lavin said in a July 14 speech to the Asia Society. "China's trade, as well as increased trade from India, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, has provided the region with multiple channels for economic and political interaction."

Singapore is an important regional hub for Chinese companies wanting to expand into Southeast Asia because of their "shared culture," according to Lavin.

"This has particularly been seen through the dramatic increase in Chinese tourism to Singapore," Lavin said.

The ambassador said a group of Singapore companies currently is planning the multibillion-dollar development of two integrated casino-and-resort centers to tap into the millions of potential customers from China.

Although Lavin cited Singapore's benefits from trade with China, he said the trade balance between the two countries will change once China gains a competitive advantage in manufacturing.

"I think the Singaporeans may be more vulnerable than a larger country like the United States," Lavin said.

However, he said, Singapore is working to develop its economy through expansion in "knowledge-based" manufacturing, with an emphasis on biotechnology and pharmaceutical and petrochemical development. 

Lavin said Singapore is developing the college-education market through its partnerships with U.S. universities, which allow students in the region who are unable to study in the United States to obtain a university education from a U.S. institution based in Singapore.

Turning to Islam in Southeast Asia, Lavin cited Indonesia, the largest Muslim nation, as a model democracy for other Muslim countries.

"Indonesia is a country with excellent economic growth at 5 percent and increased foreign direct investment and a legal system that protects private property and [allows] Islam and other religions to practice in civil society," he said.

The ambassador expressed the greatest concern for countries with Muslim minorities, such as Thailand and the Philippines.

"The Islamic community in these countries will determine how they interpret their faith in civil society," he said, adding that there is "a small number of terrorist organizations in these areas that will exploit social cleavages to incite violence."

Lavin identified the Muslim insurgency in southern Thailand as a potential exponent for this type of activity and urged Bangkok to take an active role in reducing alienation and improving economic opportunity for its Muslim population.

The ambassador also addressed maritime security in the region, saying border patrols in the Straits of Malacca are inadequate for protecting shipping and port facilities.  He said the United States is working closely with Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia to share intelligence and develop joint operations for security. 

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)