A security guard stands watch at a hotel where the 32nd ASEAN meeting is taking place in Singapore VIDEO CNN's Maria Ressa reports on the issues facing Asian nations (July 23) Windows Media 28K 80K  SPECIAL SECTION: Visions of China

July 23, 1999
Web posted at: 2:12 p.m. EDT (1812 GMT)

In this story: Foreign ministers address democracy, human rights RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

SINGAPORE (CNN) -- Southeast Asian leaders are expected to reaffirm their "one-China" policy Saturday as their regional organization tries to bridge a growing gulf among China, Taiwan and the United States.

As the Association of Southeast Asian Nations opened its annual summit Friday, regional leaders said a stable relationship among the Pacific powers -- Japan, the United States and China -- is critical to the economic recovery under way in many Asian nations.

Taiwan asserted a claim to statehood last week, touching off a bitter spat with China by demanding it be treated as an equal in talks with Beijing, which considers Taiwan a renegade province.

Diplomatic sources said ASEAN was likely to repeat its one- China position in a communique Saturday, when U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is expected to address the simmering dispute across the Taiwan Strait as part of a regional security forum.

"The stability of the U.S.-China-Japan triangular relationship is a vital factor underpinning regional security, and by extension, regional economic recovery," said Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. "The triangular relationship itself is under stress...now there is the cross-strait problem between China and Taiwan, which may test U.S.-China and Japan-China relations."

Although ASEAN countries are recovering from the devastating economic crisis that began in 1997 with the collapse of Thailand's currency, there are still many problems to be overcome, Goh said. Those problems include a high rate of corporate debt and the sluggish pace of corporate reforms in many member states, he said.

Goh also warned against a move toward greater protectionism and linked economics with security for the 10 ASEAN nations.

"Many governments came under tremendous pressure to cope with the political, economic and social effects of the crisis," he said. "Millions of people were impoverished ... We are on the road to recovery, but we cannot be complacent."

Foreign ministers address democracy, human rights

In a rare statement for the organization, ASEAN Chairman Shanmugam Jayakumar said member states must address issues such as democratization and human rights.

ASEAN members frequently bristle at outside criticism of their internal affairs. Members range from democracies such as Thailand and the Philippines to authoritarian states such as Myanmar and Vietnam.

Jayakumar, who is Singapore's foreign minister, said the countries must not abandon their principles of consensus, consultation and non-intervention in each others' domestic affairs.

"But without abandoning them, how can the organization and its members face new challenges that will have to be confronted by ASEAN -- challenges such as good governance, challenges such as democratization, human rights and so on?" Jayakumar asked.

"These are challenges which ASEAN must face, and face it in a way that doesn't abandon established principles," he said.

The organization has stressed a police of "constructive engagement" that keeps states such as Myanmar linked to critics such as the United States and the European Union.

"We are painted as if all kinds of evil things are taking place in our country -- which is not true," said Win Aung, Myanmar's foreign minister.

Jakarta Bureau Chief Maria Ressa and Reuters contributed to this report.