Singapore - Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has urged Southeast Asian nations to become more united and increase their role in building a new equilibrium in the Asia-Pacific region as it witnesses the manoeuvrings of the world's superpowers.
Gen Prayut, who was invited to give the keynote speech at the 15th Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia Security Summit in Singapore, said the security and potential of the region are encouraging major countries to expand their political, economic and social influence.
Therefore, Asean member states need to "be united and step up their roles in building a strategic new equilibrium in the region in order to support an atmosphere of peace", and to enable all sides to abide by principles, regulations and values that are universally accepted as constructive.
Asean members have clearly demonstrated they can create a zone of peace among themselves after the conflicts of the past, and are achieving the goal of the bloc's founding fathers of building a dynamic community, he said.
all smiles: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter also attended, warning yesterday Chinese construction on a South China Sea islet claimed by the Philippines would prompt "actions being taken".
Gen Prayut said the US is rebalancing its policies to push the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which Thailand is interested in, and is boosting its appeal through studies and public hearings over all sectors.
Meanwhile, China has its "One Belt, One Road" policy and is seeking to advance business opportunities through the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), he said.
Russia has a policy that focuses on Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union, and India has its "Act East Policy".
"The US, China and Japan remain the most important players in the region, while India, Russia, Australia and South Korea are becoming more important," the prime minister said.
Gen Prayut said that while China considers that its economic growth and the development of its security capabilities are being carried out in a peaceful and constructive manner, many countries are concerned these developments will affect the balance of power and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
"This is a challenge. We must come up with ways and means for joint cooperation, we must initiate joint activities constructively so as to help narrow gaps and create balance in the regional architecture for our mutual benefit," he said.
"Thailand's equilibrium and resilience will help maintain and protect Asean's equilibrium, which will be vital towards creating a new strategic equilibrium in the Asia-Pacific."
Geetha Govindasamy, a senior lecturer at the University of Malaya's Department of East Asian Studies, said it would not be easy for Asean members to comply with Gen Prayut's ideas on building equilibrium because each country has its own approach to security. Some solve their problems through bilateral talks, for example.
Apart from the strategic new equilibrium proposal, Gen Prayut also said Thailand has been paying much attention to seven security challenges.
These were tensions in the South China Sea and East China Sea, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, terrorism and extremism, the stockpiling of military arms, irregular migration, cybersecurity and climate change and disaster mitigation. He warned Asean must be united over its approach to maritime disputes as peace and stability in maritime areas are of mutual benefit to all.
"All sides must recognise the importance of maritime disputes, to preserve peace and stability with these issues, to have freedom of overflight and freedom of navigation, as well as to support peaceful resolutions to the disputes in line with international law," he said.
The prime minister also raised concerns over the threat presented by North Korea's nuclear programme and called on the Six Party Talks involving China, the US, North and South Korea, Japan and Russia to lessen tensions through diplomacy.