**FILE** A man is silhouetted May 24, 2012, against the skyline of ... more >Mr. Shamnugam said that ASEAN countries welcomed the increased U.S. presence, but he called for it to be part of a broader strategy that convinces average Americans of their interests in the region.
“Engagement cannot simply be militaristic,” he said. “It has to be economic as well. Americans have to see that they are making money and they are involved and their companies are here.”
While Mr. Shanmugam said that U.S. engagement is necessary to ensure that the region does not become “China’s backyard,” he argued that “we cannot get into a Cold War mentality.”
“It cannot be China vs. the U.S.,” he said. “ASEAN, Singapore cannot be asked to take sides because if you’re asked to take sides and you’re small countries in this region, we just won’t do it. So American policy cannot be based on ‘Well, you’re either with or you’re against us.’”
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Ben Birnbaum is a reporter covering foreign affairs for The Washington Times. Prior to joining The Times, Birnbaum worked as a reporter-researcher at the New Republic. A Boston-area native, he graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University with a degree in government and psychology. He won multiple collegiate journalism awards for his articles and columns in the Cornell Daily Sun.
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