CONFIDENTIAL
SOME QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
What are the implications of any improvement in Sino-Soviet relations for the region and for Cambodia in particular?
1.
2. Will the Cambodian resistance coalition hang together? Does ASEAN have a strategy for dealing with Vietnam?
3. What are Vietnam's real objectives and what are the constraints on her? Can the West influence her behaviour?
4.
5.
At what level can we expect the refugee problem to persist?
Can we rely on ASEAN countries continuing to be more or less Western orientated and resistant to Communist influence? Can we reduce Soviet influence and do we want to reduce Chinese influence?
Will ASEAN continue to develop or is there a risk of regression or disintegration?
6.
Is ASEAN likely to develop a joint defensive capability and what are the implications for defence sales?
8. How long can the more vulnerable ASEAN countries survive recession? What are the prospects for economic recovery?
9. What are the chances of Singapore rivalling Hong Kong as financial centre?
10.
Should we see Japan as a partner or a rival in South East Asia? How far is their advantage attributable to their aid input?
11. Can the political will for closer EC/ASEAN relations be used to defuse some of the present tensions between the 2 groups on economic issues? How can it be manifested more effectively?
12. Is ASEAN likely more often to concert action and if so what are the implications for British trade? Is a requirement for counter-purchasing likely to become general andif so how should we deal with it? Is discrimination likely to be used more often as a lever to extract concessins in unrelated fields?
13.
What reaction has there been to EC and UK roles in MF A negotations and the GATT Ministerial meeting in Geneva?
CONFIDENTIAL