By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan today said Asean will continue to chart a neutral foreign policy path despite increasing pressure to take sides in the growing rivalry between the United States and China.
He reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to being a zone of peace and neutrality.
“We are used to this and we will handle it carefully. The US is our largest investor and China has long been our biggest trading partner.
“Our policy is to carefully navigate to avoid being seen as leaning towards either side.”he told reporters at a press conference after the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today.
His comment comes as the August 1 deadline for the US’ 25 per cent tariff on Malaysian exports looms.
Mohamad said the deadline was intended to remove prolonged uncertainty in financial markets.
“What I was made to understand by (US State Secretary) Marco Rubio is (the US) placed the August 1 timeline to remove uncertainty in the market because the market hates uncertainty,” he said, adding that Malaysia and other countries continue to engage with the US to secure trade deals.
Mohamad confirmed that no formal list of expectations was presented by Washington during the Asean-US Post-Ministerial Conference, and brushed off speculations the US had used the platform to pressure Asean nations over trade.
“We don’t give each other wishlists. Each country can raise concerns specific to their national interests during bilateral meetings, including tariffs,” he said.
On Myanmar, Mohamad said the Special Envoy of the Asean Chair on Myanmar Tan Sri Othman Hashim has continued talks with stakeholders, and that he may visit Naypyidaw in September.
“What we’ve gathered is a common wishlist: the release of political prisoners, a ceasefire, and humanitarian access. These are shared demands,” he said.
Othman will help implement Asean’s Five-Point Consensus, aimed at resolving the Myanmar crisis.
Mohamad also stressed that holding elections in Myanmar without inclusive participation remains unacceptable.
“It is the consensus that an election is not the priority at this moment. What’s the point of holding an election that only involves part of the country? It’s not right.”
Mohamad added that Asean remains united, with the joint statement by foreign ministers on the ongoing violence in Palestine a testament to this fact.
