Howard riles Asia with snub to peace treaty

[struggle4progress]

26 November 2004
By TOM ALLARD

The Australian government is refusing to sign a non-aggression pact with its Asian neighbours, causing friction ahead of Prime Minister John Howard's visit to Laos for the ASEAN leaders' summit.

The meeting, which starts tomorrow, will launch negotiations between Australia, New Zealand and the 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations for a free trade deal and is the first time Australia has been invited to attend the forum.

But, while other countries seeking closer economic links with ASEAN have acceded to its treaty of amity and co-operation, Australia will not. <snip>

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3109721a12,00.html

[Kagemusha]

1. Of course he won't!

Then what'll he say if he has to invade them to find terrorist scum? "Oops, sorry, I know I have a treaty but, well, you're just a bad neighbor so I have no choice"?

... Well probably, but at least he wouldn't be violating a treaty in this case.