CONFIDENTIAL
SOUTH EAST ASIAN DEPARTMENT OBJECTIVES
Long-Term Objectives
1. To promote in our relations with ASEAN countries a political climate in which we can protect and expand UK economic interests (investment over £4 billion, two-way trade over £3 billion) in a relatively rich and fast growing region.
Priority
A
A
2. To focus our attention and resources on the ASEAN countries (and to a lesser extent Burma) where there are the greatest opportunities to promote our political, commercial and defence interests.
3. To promote with other Western countries regional co-operation particularly by supporting ASEAN and the continued stability of the non-Communist countries of South East Asia and to use our influence to prevent outbreaks of conflict either with their neighbours or among themselves.
4.
To protect our valuable special relationship with Brunei.
5. To
achieve
an internationally acceptable and lasting
settlement in Cambodia.
6. To achieve a satisfactory resolution to the problem of Indo-Chinese refugees.
7.
Subject to 5 and 6 above, to develop our relations with the Indo-Chinese countries and to ensure that we are satisfactorily placed to take advantage of future commercial opportunities.
8.
To exploit opportunities to reduce Soviet influence in the region.
9. To help combat drug production and trafficking in the region.
Short-Term Objectives
1.
To develop our political, commercial and defence interests in the ASEAN countries (and to a lesser extent Burma) by targeted use of FCO/ODA resources (aid, scholarships, military training, sponsored visits etc) and by seeking additional resources for this purpose.
2. To ensure a regular pattern of outward and inward visits by Ministers and other senior visitors to ASEAN and Burma; in particular, to ensure a successful visit by the Secretary of State to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in April.
DC5AFG
CONFIDENTIAL
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