Feedback: A Benign Cancer No Less

Tuesday, 10 July 2001, 2:22 pm
Opinion: Scoop Feedback

Dear Editor,

According to the Prime Minister, the future of the Asia-Pacific region (as articulated in the New Zealand Defence Review papers) is "incredibly benign".

This has a very hollow ring to it when one considers the level of unrest presently dogging the region.

The Solomons on a one-way ride to bankruptcy.
Violent unrest in Papua New Guinea.
Coups in Fiji.
Eight governments in 5 years in Vanuatu.
China re-arming at an alarming rate.
Taiwan and China diametrically opposed.
Singapore re-equipping her Navy and Airforce.
Nepal seemingly about to implode.
Indonesia full of internal strife.
North Korea famine ridden and broke.
A third of New Zealand forces bogged down in East Timor with no clear exit strategy.

If this constitutes a "benign" region I would appreciate hearing the Prime Minister's definition of cancerous or volatile.

Mirek Marcanik
23 Oban Crescent
Wadestown

Scoop

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