Recently, D. H. Rumsfeld, the US Defense Secretary put forward the new strategy for Asia-Pacific Region at Asian Security Conference held in Singapore. The contents at the kernel is the transnational anti-terrorism and he expressed that the US army would come to station in the Southeast Asia Region, taking part in the chasing and crushing down on the terrorists in these countries.

Under the camouflage of anti-terrorism it intends to strengthen its military existence by thrusting its nose into the region. This has roused a great debate and alertness of many countries in Southeast Asia.

Thaksin Shinawatra, the Thai Prime Minister holds that Thailand has in no case been involved into international terrorist event. The recent violent event in the southeast of Thailand is an internal affair and the country is fully capable to solve the problem on its own.

The Thai Minister of Defence expressed that he was against the US stationing its troops in Thailand. He said, it's a matter of great importance to send troops into another country and we are able to solve our own problem and don't want interference from any foreign army. The ASEAN countries must not go dancing to the US baton.

The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister pointed out explicitly that Malaysia opposed resolutely to the US army's stationing in the Malacca Strait in the name of anti-terrorism. He stressed that no good would be brought to the Malacca Strait Region if the security of the Strait was going to be controlled by any country other than those in the peripheral areas of the Malacca Strait, or otherwise it would eventually make the sovereignty of those countries threatened.

From this we come to think about the combined military maneuver, the "gold cobra" conducted jointly by the US and southeast Asian countries in May with anti-terrorism as its main theme, in which the Philippines and the People's Republic of Mongolia were for the first time dragged in. Recently, the US poked every now and then its nose into the Southeast Asia in the name of anti-terrorism, which could be deemed as "to be a drunkard otherwise than in wine" as goes a Chinese proverb.

The Southeast Asia holds a strategic position of great military importance. Whether the waterways of the Malacca and Bashi Channels are accessible unblocked has everything to do with the normal operation of the US economic system. To consolidate the leading position, strengthen its military existence in order to curb its potential rival in the Southeast Asian Region, and try to bring all those countries in the region into its Asia-Pacific Security System with the US taking the lead the US has always been racking its brains for various devices to penetrate into the region in order to keep its influence over the major events in the Southeast Asia Region.

Confronted with the aggressive stance the Southeast Asian countries all said "No" one after another to it in consideration of their own interests. The ASEAN countries hold generally, once the US army come and station in the country it could be a case in which "it's easier to call up an evil spirit than to allay it." This is the very case in Afghanistan when the US army broke into the country and into other Middle Asia countries yet so far they still stay there without any sign of withdrawal.

Moreover, it is likely to "draw fire against oneself", inducing more terrorist attacks into their own countries. What is more important is that the US prisoner abuse has already roused strong indignation among the Moslems in Southeast Asian countries. Should the US army enter into the anti-terrorist action in Southeast Asia it will beyond doubt cause a great social and political turmoil there. And in the meantime the tightened atmosphere incurred by the long-term anti-terrorism activities will bring inestimable impact on the economy. The opposition of the Southeast Asian countries has beyond doubt poured a bucket of cold water over the idiotic thinking of the US for the domination of the Southeast Asian Region.

To drape itself up in a tiger's skin to intimidate the people is the US normal practice. In order to realize its strategic intention it often rides roughshod over the world by flaunting such banners as "anti-terrorism" and "safeguarding peace".

From its attack on the Afghanistan to the invasion of Iraq it's now casting its covetous eyes on the Southeast Asia. Creating more often than not an intense atmosphere the US entertains an ulterior motive. This is neither good for world peace and security nor is it possible to win over the will of the people.

Article carried on People's Daily of Jun 15 and translated by People's Daily Online