CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- A new acronym emerged recently in the world of international relations: APT. For those unaware of its meaning, we translate: "ASEAN Plus Three," i.e., the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Japan, China and South Korea.
How should we summarize the various expectations and reservations regarding the future of the APT and ASEAN?
It seems rather positive. It is encouraging, for the region and beyond, that the half billion people of the 10 ASEAN countries are now joining hands with China and Japan, as well as with dynamic South Korea.