November-December 2003

Editorial

Trouble Times…  

Terrorism is still a very real threat to international peace and security, it affects world trade movement, is the name Globalisation  collapsing. Terrorism and commerce talks have dominated the APEC summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had no choice: "The topic of terrorism is unavoidable. There is no way that developed countries can discuss trade but not security because the economy and security go hand in hand. Terrorism destroys economic and human security, therefore we will talk on this issue and the United States will push for comprehensive cooperation in order that all countries realise terrorism is not only a US problem. Southeast Asia is now very much aware that it is one of the fronts in the war against terrorism. These things will be discussed in the context of how they undermine secure trade because we cannot have stable international trade if it is always being undermined in a climate of fear of terrorism."

As the first major meeting of world leaders since the stunning collapse of World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Mexico, the APEC summit is also poised to be the arena for a new showdown on international trading rules.

Breaking the deadlock between rich and poor nations, which is centred on disagreement over agriculture, and putting the Doha Round of free trade negotiations back on track will be a major goal for the Bangkok talks. Thaksin, who faces the biggest task of his career in guiding the debate,  he said he is confident developed nations will make compromises on trade issues.

Some 20,000 security personnel have been deployed to protect delegates, while fighter jets and tanks are guarding Bangkok's international airport and the city's hotels are patrolled by armed commandos and bomb-sniffing dogs. APEC groups 21 Pacific Rim nations: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.