Asean rejects being ‘forced to choose sides’ in major power rivalry, says Thailand’s Deputy PM Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara

Thailand’s deputy PM told the Post’s Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023 that strength and unity among Asean can help ‘preserve regional peace and stability’

Aukus and the Quad should avoid activities that lead to miscalculations, he said – adding that Hong Kong’s RCEP application had Thailand’s backing

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Thai Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara (right) shakes hands with Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu during the Post’s Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023 on Monday. Photo: May Tse

Published: 2:13pm, 9 Oct 2023Updated: 6:30pm, 9 Oct 2023

Southeast Asia must be careful to avoid getting caught in the headwinds of geopolitical rivalries that could lead to regional fragmentation, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said on Monday.

“At a time when we need more global cooperation, the world has become more fragmented with friend-shoring, decoupling and geopolitical rivalry becoming the norm,” Parnpree said during his keynote speech at the Post’s Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023.

“Major power rivalry must be turned into a rule-based strategic competition that does not force countries in the region to choose sides, nor forgo economic opportunity out of geopolitical consideration.”

Asean does not want to see this region become an arena of confrontation

Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Thailand’s deputy prime minister

In the face of such escalating tensions, Parnpree highlighted the importance of strength and unity among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations in “preserving regional peace and stability”.

He said security arrangements such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and Aukus alliance should “contribute positively to the regional order and avoid activities that may lead to miscalculation.”

“Asean does not want to see this region become an arena of confrontation,” he said. “More pertinently, we want to avoid being forced to choose sides.”

Parnpree, who is also Thailand’s minister of foreign affairs, made the comments on Monday at the Hong Kong-Asean Summit 2023 organised by the South China Morning Post in partnership with the Hong Kong-Asean Foundation and the Our Hong Kong Foundation.