THREAD Enjoyed talking to Philippine foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin. Highlights: he backed AUKUS, arguing that it "strengthens deterrence" because "really deadly weaponry... focuses the mind" and will discourage an unnamed other power from "overreach" youtube.com
Although many in the West believe (hope?) China's Wolf Warrior diplomacy is backfiring, Locsin finds it "refreshing" & "clarifying". We know where China stands, whereas traditional diplomacy is "so soft so general so filled with generalities, you really don't know where you are".
After a recent trip to DC, Locsin said the relationship with the US is "back to the way it was", which should also help stabilise the relationship with China because "everybody knows what they're going to do, from the worst scenario to the best scenario. No more uncertainties."
On Myanmar, he said ASEAN credibility is at stake if it lets junta chief attend major summits. ASEAN risks being seen as "a bunch of guys who always agree with each other on the worthless things". He said other ASEAN leaders sympathise but are wary of backing junta into a corner.
He said Zoom diplomacy has upsides because "we already know what we want to say", whereas travel & jet lag leaves ministers "half dazed half the time" at summits. But to "talk turkey" on tough issues like Myanmar, leaders need to meet in person to have trusted conversations.
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