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DE RUEHML #2707/01 2220659
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FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7805
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 6178
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE 0536
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RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 3328
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI IMMEDIATE 1547

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002707 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR D AND EAP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2027 
TAGS: ASEAN ETRD PREL EXBS SN
SUBJECT: THE DEPUTY SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH SINGAPORE FM 
YEO 
 
Classified By: Classified by: CDA Paul Jones, reasons 1.4 c, d 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo des 
the United States' role in the region as a quiet balancing force, inter 
only as necessary and offering symbolic support for ASEAN, during a bil 
meeting with Deputy Secretary Negroponte at the ASEAN Regional Forum (A 
August 1 meetings in Manila.  ASEAN member countries are making economi 
political gains, although some, such as Vietnam, are progressing more q 
than others like Indonesia and Burma.  Bilateral relations between the 
Singapore remain strong.  Regional trade initiatives and market unifica 
plans are progressing slowly, but more needs to be done push those goal 
forward, Yeo added. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) The Deputy Secretary commented that much progress had been achi 
the region, and within ASEAN, over the years since he served as ambassa 
Manila in 1993-96.  He attended an ASEAN meeting in Manila in 1981 and 
that then they were not talking about a unified market in 2015.  Foreig 
Minister Yeo responded that the ASEAN nations have come together, "not 
love, but out of fear." 
 
¶3.  (C) FM Yeo stated that this multilateral cooperation is a necessity 
the rise of Indian and Chinese power; ASEAN members decided they would 
as a coalition.  The Deputy Secretary responded that the coalition is a 
thing and asked about the U.S. role in ASEAN's development.  FM Yeo sai 
the United States should support regional consolidation efforts, but do 
have to be as active in the region as it had in the past.  Rather, the 
should be ready to intervene when needed. Yeo stressed that the U.S. ro 
should be supportive in selective situations, and suggested that, when 
intervenes, it does so "in a nice way."  He stressed again that as Chin 
India increasingly become factors in the region, the U.S. should serve 
balancing force. 
 
¶4.  (C) As country coordinator within ASEAN, Foreign Minister Yeo said 
Singapore strongly defended the U.S. when A/S Hill was unable to attend 
dialogue meeting in Washington in June.  ASEAN members were also disapp 
when Summit talks with President Bush were postponed.  Yeo acknowledged 
Secretary's need to be engaged in the Middle East this week.  However, 
 
SIPDIS 
suggested that the U.S. make symbolic gestures to demonstrate its inter 
ASEAN.  The Deputy Secretary responded that ASEAN is important and that 
U.S. is sincere in its support and interest.  He noted that the postpon 
events is not an indication that the U.S. is ambivalent about the regio 
two agreed that the U.S. would continue to show its support and that th 
make efforts to capitalize on official visits to the region. 
 
¶5.  (C) FM Yeo asked what message the United States would like to conve 
meeting with ASEAN Ministers.  The Deputy Secretary responded that he w 
like to relay a message of reassurance, commitment, presence, and inter 
called the region an "oasis of tranquility."  Yeo agreed, noting that S 
Asia must hold together and remain a neutral platform. 
 
ASEAN MEMBERS PROGRESSING AT DIFFERENT RATES 
 
¶6.  (C) The Deputy Secretary asked about the individual progress of oth 
members.  Foreign Minister Yeo noted the progress Vietnam has made.  He 
speculated that in 50 years Vietnam may be the strongest member of ASEA 
Indonesia, on the other hand, is a hard-working nation, but does not ha 
internal capacity to become a similar success.  Indonesia is crippled b 
lack of infrastructure and prevalent corruption.  The Deputy Secretary 
that the current Indonesian government is the most effective yet.  FM Y 
agreed, but lamented that it is poorly structured with too much power a 
administrative capabilities.  Because so many officials have veto power 
corruption has spread throughout the government.  The Deputy Secretary 
that Indonesia also has a large and growing population.  Foreign Minist 
quipped that Indonesia is "growing by one Singapore a 
year." 
 
¶7.  (C) FM Yeo characterized as "good" a recent meeting about human rig 
concerns between Burma's Foreign Minister Nien Win and EAP DAS Eric Joh 
Beijing and noted, as an aside, that ASEAN had created a human rights b 
averred that Burma has never been an obstruction to ASEAN.  While he wa 
hopeful that Burma would open its market in the near future, he suggest 
the government has taken some promising steps.  It held a constitutiona 
convention and will draft its main constitutional points within the nex 
months.  In his view, Burma is "inching forward."  The fact remains, ho 
that the back and side gates of Burma are open to China and India, and 
Burma remains a strategic imperative.  FM Yeo noted that positive thing 
happening along the Burmese/Thai border, but that China is powering Bur 
economy. 
 
BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH SINGAPORE REMAIN STRONG 
 
¶8.  (C) FM Yeo pointed out the large American business presence in Sing 
(more than 10,000 U.S. companies) and said that the American School the 
 
MANILA 00002707  002 OF 002 
 
 
the largest in the world. The Deputy Secretary thanked Singapore for be 
shepherd in the region over the last year.  The Deputy Secretary commen 
that, if ASEAN adopts a unified currency, Singapore might be the gold s 
Foreign Minister Yeo jested that Singapore would rather keep a low prof 
 
THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM 
 
¶9.  (C) The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) has been in existence for 15 yea 
The Deputy Secretary suggested that it is time to review the organizati 
goals so it can move forward.  As regional priorities have changed, ARF 
to become more relevant.  Yeo stated that ARF will include Bangladesh a 
Lanka, but he would like to see a moratorium on new members.  He does n 
ARF to open membership further to Central Asian nations. 
 
U.S./ASEAN MARKET COOPERATION 
 
¶10.  (C) The Deputy Secretary reminded Foreign Minister Yeo that the U. 
remains a huge market for consumer products and that, in this regard, t 
can help the region move toward a unified market.  The two also briefly 
discussed the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), a year-o 
agreement intended to strengthen trade and investment ties between the 
ASEAN.  The Deputy Secretary asked whether it is active.  Yeo responded 
is moving slowly and that ASEAN is approaching it in a practical way. H 
TIFA facilitates cooperation in areas like sanitary and phytosanitary i 
and standards. 
 
¶11.  (C) The Deputy Secretary concluded the discussion by recounting th 
history of ASEAN's formation and noting his own long service in the reg 
his view, ASEAN represents an interesting and logical evolution. He lik 
ASEAN to the Treaty of Rome and noted the success of Europe 50 years la 
Yeo urged the Deputy Secretary to recount his historical perspective wh 
meets with the ASEAN Foreign Ministers and to stress U.S. interest in r 
success. 
 
¶12.  (U) August 1, 2007 ; TIME 08:00; Manila, Philippines. 
 
¶13.  (U)  Meeting Participants: 
 
U.S. 
 
Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte 
Kaye Lee, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of 
State 
Ted Wittenstein, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary 
of State 
Jack Andre, Staff, EAP/Regional and Security Policy Affairs 
Mireille Zieseniss, Notetaker 
 
Singapore 
Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo 
Peter Ho, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
Jacky Foo, Director/ASEAN Directorate, Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs 
Simon Tensing De Cruz, Director/Special Duties, Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs 
Chua Ying Ying, Deputy Director, ASEAN Issues, Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs 
Chi Chiew Sum, Special Assistant to the Foreign Minister 
Tracy Tam, Desk Officer, ASEAN Directorate, Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs 
 
JONES