KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today (Nov 21) urged the United States to sustain its engagement of Southeast Asia, as both sides celebrated the elevation of their ties to a strategic partnership.

Speaking during the Third Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-US Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Mr Lee noted that the US has played an “indispensable” role in the peace and stability of the region, adding that he hoped America “will keep on engaging ASEAN where there is possibility for us to work for mutual benefit.”

Expressing appreciation for the US’ support of ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, Mr Lee added: “We (ASEAN) count on the US to maintain its focus on the region, despite many other preoccupations around the world and to continue to exercise a large and benign influence on our region for many years to come.”

US President Barack Obama, who attended today’s Summit, had pledged to “pivot” the US’ foreign policy towards Asia. But with the US presidential elections looming over the horizon next year, it remains to be seen if the new administration would continue to stay the course.

Mr Lee also thanked Washington for playing a constructive role in the South China Sea and consistent advocacy of the respect for international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“We (Singapore) strongly support the fundamental rights of freedom of navigation and overflight, and other internationally lawful uses of the air and sea related to these freedoms in the global commons, including in the South China Sea,” he added.

On his part, Mr Obama told ASEAN leaders during the meeting that South China Sea claimant states should stop militarising the issue, in what may be an indirect reference to China’s growing assertiveness in the regional maritime domain.

There are signs of growing maritime tensions in the region, given the overlapping territorial claims between China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei in the South China Sea - through which US$5 trillion (S$7.1 trillion) in shipborne trade passes every year.

Beijing has created artificial islands in the disputed waters by reclamation, sparking fears of militarisation which some believe could threaten freedom of navigation in the region.

Manila has taken Beijing to an international tribunal in the Hague in a bid to resolve the overlapping claims, but China has refused to participate in the process.

To signal that it does not recognise China’s territorial claims over the new artificial islands, Pentagon has launched a series of patrol missions in the South China Sea to demonstrate international freedom of navigation, drawing China’s ire.

BROADENING ASEAN-US COOPERATION

Looking forward, Mr Lee proposed several broad themes under which ASEAN and the US can work together on as strategic partners.

He said that ASEAN and the US should strengthen efforts to jointly deal with transboundary challenges such as human trafficking, climate change and haze pollution.

Given that ASEAN has just endorsed the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons and a Plan of Action this morning, Mr Lee said more can be done with the US in this regard.

“On climate change, we appreciate the US’ continued leadership and reiterate our commitment towards the first truly universal (post-2020) climate agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (next month),” he said.

“America plays a critical role in this, together with China and other large countries. I’m sure, and I speak for other ASEAN countries, that we will do our part, proportionate to our size and weight,” added Mr Lee.

He also thanked the US for contributing to efforts to help fight forest fires and haze in the region, adding that both sides should work closely together to combat the haze by addressing its fundamental causes and thereby fulfilling commitments under the UNFCCC treaty.

Following the Summit, ASEAN and American leaders issued a joint statement on the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership. In the statement, the leaders expressed their commitment to a “rules-based approach in Asia, respect for international law and the peaceful resolution of disputes”.

ASEAN and the US also pledged to work together to address a wide range of challenging global issues such as terrorism, climate change, environmental degradation and pollution, and cybersecurity, among others.

A five-year work plan to implement the strategic partnership was also adopted, with particularly focus on five priority areas: economic integration, maritime cooperation, transnational challenges including climate change, emerging leaders and women’s opportunities.

Mr Lee added that ASEAN-US cooperation should be broadened beyond political-security issues to reinforce the “robust and multi-faceted relationship” between both sides.

He encouraged the US to keep up its high-quality investments in Southeast Asia, adding that he welcomed the successful conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“As trade is strategy, it is critical for the US Congress to ratify the TPP to send a clear and powerful message that the US is a Pacific power and here to stay,” said Mr Lee.

The TPP, which aims to liberalise trade for 40 per cent of the world’s output, was concluded in October and is now pending signing and ratification by the 12 Pacific Rim countries. The US Congress is expected to vote on the deal early next year. ALBERT WAI