Asian Fortune Your source for all things Asian American
By Jennie L. Ilustre
Participants of the first Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) – all 75 outstanding leaders representing ten Asian countries – have flown home, filled with many memorable experiences. But for sure, one thing will stand out: The words of the leader of the Free World acknowledging their achievements and their potentials.
During a one-hour White House dialogue on June 2, President Obama welcomed the participants of his signature program and praised them. He said, “Technology is giving you more power to communicate and organize like never before. Across the region, you are civil society leaders working for democracy and human rights and religious tolerance. You are entrepreneurs who are turning your ideas into new businesses, activists fighting for the environment and against climate change. And that’s the power that young people have, and the spirit of optimism and idealism that you represent. So you’re inspiring to me. And I’ve made it clear that America wants to be your partner. We want to help you succeed.”
Later in the session, the president stressed: “I am very confident–much more confident in the future of Southeast Asia, the Asia Pacific and the world, because I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with you. I think all of you are going to do outstanding work.”
This partnership with the Asian youth – YSEALI calls for 500 annual participants – plants seeds to engage future leaders in helping address regional and global challenges. After all, it’s likely that some of them could become presidents of their countries or CEOs in the corporate world, or occupy top positions in the government, in the private sector and non-profit organizations.
Service to Others
A total of 20 academic and 55 professional Fellows, aged 18 to 35, took part in the program. YSEALI’s goal: Develop the leadership skills of young academics and professionals, and also deepen their engagement on key regional and global issues. Obama pointed out that in Southeast Asia, almost two-thirds of the population of 600 million is under 35 years old.
“So for the last five weeks, you’ve been all across America,” said the president. “You’ve experienced state legislatures and city councils. You’ve seen how our day-to-day democracy works. You’ve worked at nonprofits, learning how to organize and advocate for change. You’ve interned in some American companies, seeing how to build and manage a business.”
The president said he was proud of the Fellows, chosen from 1,000 applicants, for the amazing things they are doing in their countries. “And I suspect that Niema Remejoso, from the Philippines–there she is right there–she spoke for a lot of you. She said, ‘Am I dreaming, or is this really happening?’”
Obama also asked Thongvone Sosamphan from Laos to stand up and be acknowledged. “In Atlanta, she visited the memorial and center honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And she was struck by one of Dr. King’s quotes, which says, ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
The president recognized some of the leaders as examples of service. Dr. Khine Thinsar Maung, he said, “is a doctor in Myanmar, where she offers free surgeries to children for cleft palates and lips, and gives them a new smile and new confidence.”
Earlier in a morning press event, Dr. Dr. Khine Thinsar Maung told Asian Fortune her goal was to link up with people and organizations in the US for her outreach service and free clinics, learning a lot at a school of community medicine in Oklahoma. Currently, she is in charge of International Relation and Public Relation Department in a private hospital in Yangon. She is also volunteer secretary of the non-profit Victoria Health Support Foundation. She plans “free medical trips with specialists to rural areas to help poor kids all over the country,” in cooperation with Alliance for Smile organization.
The president also acknowledged Seth Suonvisal, who works with the parliament in Cambodia, and witnessed the legislative process in Tulsa, Oklahoma.: “And Seth, we’re proud to be your partner as you strive to ensure that governments deliver for all of the Cambodian people,” he added. He also praised Muchamad Dafip. “Where’s Muchamad? There he is. He is an advocate for the environment in Indonesia.”
Shared Future
President Obama pointed out: “I think all of you know I have a special attachment to Southeast Asia. As a boy, I lived in Jakarta. My mother spent years working in villages to help women improve their lives. So Southeast Asia helped shape who I am and how I see the world.”
“And as President,” he stressed, “I’ve made it a pillar of my foreign policy to make sure that the United States is more deeply engaged in the Asia Pacific region…So I’ve deepened America’s ties with Southeast Asia because your region is critical to our shared future.”
During a morning press event, State Department Special Adviser for Global Youth Issues Andy Rabens said the program was announced by President Obama in a town hall in Burma. YSEALI helps empower the young leaders by expanding their skills, resources and networks to turn their ideas into action. The program offers workshops, online networking, exchanges, professional development, and hands-on training. Today, the virtual YSEALI network includes about 35,000 Asian youth.
Once back home, the 75 fellows will connect with their peers across Asia through larger YSEALI and US international exchange program alumni networks. They will build on their American experiences in addressing challenges and starting new opportunities in their home communities.
YSEALI has also added a $20,000 Seeds for the Future grant to support the young leaders’ new ideas for civic engagement, education, entrepreneurship and economic development, and environment and natural resources management. The competition for the grant helps match them with their peers in Southeast Asian countries. It will also encourage them to work together to solve regional challenges in partnership with the US.
President Obama obviously enjoyed the session with the participants of the first Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI). He gave substantive replies to current issues such as the South China Sea maritime territorial dispute, trade, human trafficking and the environment. Excerpts follow.
Q: …I’m from Vietnam. Currently, I’m working for the Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development…What is your opinion about disputes and China’s action in the East Sea or so-called the South China Sea?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I already mentioned, what has allowed all of Asia to prosper over the last two, three decades–including China–is there’s been relative peace and stability, freedom of navigation, freedom of commerce. And all of that has been underwritten, all of that has been because there have been certain rules that everybody has followed. Freedom of navigation requires that people observe basic conduct about, this far off, your territory is your territory. After that, it’s international waters. If there’s a dispute, then there are international mechanisms to adjudicate that dispute.
If you start losing that approach and suddenly conflicts arise and claims are made based on how big the country is or how powerful its navy is, instead of based on law, then I think Asia will be less prosperous and the Pacific region will be less prosperous. And that’s why we’ve said directly to China and to other claimant countries, “We don’t have a claim to these areas. We’re not parties in the dispute. But we do have a stake in making sure that they are resolved peacefully, diplomatically, and in accordance with internationally established standards.”
And for that reason, we think that land reclamation, aggressive actions by any party in that area are counterproductive. And we will continue as an Asia Pacific power to support all countries that are prepared to work with us to establish and enforce norms and rules that can continue growth and prosperity in the region. And the truth is that China is going to be successful. It’s big, it’s powerful, its people are talented and they work hard. And it may be that some of their claims are legitimate, but they shouldn’t just try to establish that based on throwing elbows and pushing people out of the way. If, in fact, their claims are legitimate, people will recognize them.
Political Advice
Q: … I’m a city council member of Davao City, the Philippines…What is your advice for a young, budding political leader, young legislator, elected official like me in a developing democracy?
THE PRESIDENT: …I think that when I think about my own political career, when I look at other political careers that I admire, I think the most important thing is to have a sense of principle and why you’re in public service. I think sometimes people want to be in public service just because they like seeing their name up in lights, they like being important. And that’s a bad reason to go into politics…
But if you’re going into politics and public service, there’s only one good reason to do it, and that is because you want to help people. And you should know what it is that you stand for and what you believe in. It doesn’t mean that you won’t have to compromise. It doesn’t mean that you might not change your mind about an issue as you go forward and you learn more and you have more experience. But you should have something inside of you that says, These are the things that are really important to me that I will not compromise on…
So for me, throughout my political career, even before I was in politics and I was just working as a community organizer, I knew that I wanted to work to create more opportunity for all people, that my orientation was always how does this help the poor or the marginalized, or somebody who has less opportunity then me; how is this going to help them if they work hard to get ahead.
I know that one of the important principles for me has always been treating everybody fairly. So whether that’s women or people of different races or different religious faiths or different sexual orientations, that one of my core principles is that I will never engage in a politics in which I’m trying to divide people or make them less than me because they look different or have a different religion. That’s a core principle.
…And unfortunately, too many politicians, they’re just climbing the ladder but they don’t know why. And when they get there, then they’re not very effective leaders. Or they become much more subject to the temptations of corruption because all they’re worried about is I want to hang on to my power, and I’m willing to give up anything in order to stay in power and do anything to stay in power. And that’s when you lose your way…You have to stand for something. That’s my most important advice.
Q&A with the President
Economic Development
Q:…I am from Indonesia. I am with the ministry of finance. My YSEALI theme is economic empowerment. What is your expectation about economic relationship between United States and ASEAN countries in the future?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we already have a very strong economic relationship. As I pointed out, this is a region that is growing fast. It has a big population. You have very hardworking people, entrepreneurial people. I expect it will continue to grow. And the United States wants to be a partner in all sorts of ways.
…Part of the goal for ASEAN countries – most of them are now entering into a stage of development where they don’t want to just be sending raw materials to someplace else to have them developed – they want to be creating value starting their own businesses, making sure that they are part of the 21st century economy. And that requires upgrading skills, education for their populations. We think we can be helpful in those areas.
…And finally, I think sustainability is going to be critical. I worry about the great forests of Indonesia and Malaysia. If those all just become palm oil plantations, and deforestation continues at the same pace it has, then the prospects of additional accelerated climate change are very powerful, not to mention the loss of species and biodiversity. The oceans, if you get overfishing, that’s a problem, pollution. Given how populated these areas are, it’s very important that economic development ties in with sustainable development.
