On 25 August 2014, Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Acting Foreign Minister, presided over the  Regional Conference on “The Future of Security in the Asia-Pacific: Emerging Challenges, Promoting Conflict  Management and Enhancing Cooperation in Maritime Areas”, held at Sukhothai Hotel, Bangkok.

The conference aims to promote free flow of discussions and exchange of views on emerging challenges, possible cooperation on conflict prevention and management and assessments of current and future directions of regional peace and security in the Asia-Pacific.

At the opening ceremony, the Permanent Secretary argued that while the geo-economics of the region is moving in the direction of sustained growth, deeper integration, growing interdependence, and enhanced connectivity, the geo-politics of the region is not moving in the same positive direction. Mr, Sihasak called this dichotomy between the rising geo-economies and deteriorating geo-politics. Asia- Pacific region continuing to face “regional flashpoints”, for example, maritime disputes centering on overlapping maritime claims, non-traditional security challenges, ranging from infectious disease, natural disasters, food, energy, and water security crises to transnational crimes, terrorism, and extremism. The Asia-Pacific region is undergoing important strategic transformations – all of them involving the major powers.  The United States, China, Japan and even India and Russia are seeking to enhance their roles in and engagement with the Asia-Pacific as well. Mr. Sihasak argued these major powers all play a critical factor in determining the direction of geo-politics in this region

Mr. Sihasak emphasized that it is more important than ever for ASEAN to assert its centrality. ASEAN should continue to play its role as facilitator to ensure that inclusive platforms for dialogue and cooperation continue to be available for all powers to use to help resolve differences. He urged ASEAN to prove its value-added to the region by being united and resilient, proactive and innovative.

On territorial dispute over the South China Sea, Mr. Sihasak urged Asia-Pacific countries to ensure such disputes do not escalate and affect regional peace and security, which are the very foundations of our region’s economic success. He stressed the need to strengthen norms and rules to facilitate the peaceful resolution of disputes such as the efforts towards the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). He viewed that the parties concerned need to work together to come up with additional confidence-building measures (CBMs) and help prevent incidents at sea from occurring. He suggested enhancing cooperation in win-win areas, such as environmental research, and search and rescue. He further suggested that the major powers have a role to play to manage relations among themselves so as to create a more conducive environment to address these maritime challenges.

Amidst on-going changes of the geo-political trends, Mr. Sihasak emphasized the need for enhance roles of multilateral framework for cooperation such as the ASEAN-led East Asia Summit (EAS). He wished to see them to be more open and inclusive. It is important to make the EAS truly strategic in order to help drive efforts to manage geo-political trends that are causing concern in our region.