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The Diplomat
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Diplomat
When Are State-owned Companies Not Interfering in the Affairs of Another Country?
There's a darkly waggish 'Family Guy' cutaway called 'Horton Hears Domestic Violence in the Next Apartment and Doesn't Call 911.' (For non-English readers, 'Horton Hears A Who' is a popular children's book by Dr. Seuss.) In the gag, there's clearly a case of wife-beating going on next door, but the eponymous, big-eared elephant sits unmoved, quietly reading a book. As the violence crescendos, he sardonically reflects, 'I'm sure there's two sides to this.' At its worst, this is how the principle of non-interference works. Yes, the regime in the country next door is brutalizing its citizens, but we're just not going to mention it. For all the reports of human rights violations and genocide, there are probably 'two sides' to what's happening. Of course, that's an extreme case, but not an uncommon one. Non-interference is pretty much the only norm that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can agree on these days, and even then, it has been considerably eroded in recent months. The prime example came earlier this month, when Cambodia's ruling duopoly of Prime Minister Hun Manet and ex-Prime Minister Hun Sen quite explicitly called for regime change in Bangkok. 'I hope there will be a new prime minister in Thailand,' was just one of the regime-changist comments Hun Sen has made in the past weeks. Hun Manet followed this up by stating that 'We are waiting for someone with real power [in Bangkok], someone with the legitimate authority to open or close border checkpoints.' Thai Vice Foreign Minister Ras Chaleechan was only being slightly hyperbolic when he retorted, 'In nearly six decades since ASEAN's founding, there has never been an instance of one member state so openly aiming to destabilize the government of another member state.' Perhaps it has been done privately, but I haven't seen ASEAN or any other Southeast Asian government publicly rebuke Phnom Penh for violating the region's cardinal principle. Worse, Hun Sen's intervention worked: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended on July 1. At the same time, Myanmar's junta is now trying to derail Timor-Leste's accession to ASEAN with claims that Dili has interfered in its affairs by allowing the anti-junta, shadow National Unity Government (NUG) to set up a representative office in Timor-Leste. But consider another example: In April, the state-run Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), one of the main financiers of Myanmar's military junta, signed an agreement with Thailand's state-run energy group PTT to expand production of an offshore gas field. Thanks to this deal, MOGE will presumably increase its revenue, and the resulting profits will flow to the military junta and its war efforts. I would genuinely like to hear someone disprove how a Thai state-run company doing business with a state-run company run by one side in a civil war is not Thailand interfering in Myanmar's domestic politics. I have long thought that ASEAN making non-interference a higher-level principle was a mistake, as it's not only wildly imprecise but also mostly impossible to adhere to. There's an obvious violation when Cambodian leaders call for regime change in a neighboring country. But is allowing residence to an exiled politician from another country a form of intervention? (Interestingly, Hun Sen has recently accused Bangkok of doing that, despite Hun Sen having done the same with Thaksin Shinawatra years ago.) Most Southeast Asian states have claimed neutrality in the Myanmar civil war, yet almost all have sent ministers to discuss economic and trade relations with the junta's ministers. Subtly, Bangkok has intimated that the Cambodian government and the Myanmar junta's failures to tackle their vast scam industries (one of the root causes of the ongoing Thai-Cambodia border crisis) is a form of intervention in its affairs, given their inaction has resulted in a rise of transnational crimes (most human trafficking and fraud) within Thailand related to their scam industries. And this, Bangkok says, permits Thailand also to intervene, such as by cutting internet access to Myanmar border towns or closing off crossings on the Cambodia border. One could get even 'deeper' and question whether non-interference is even possible. On most occasions, inaction or neutrality supports the status quo, and thus, not intervening is an indirect form of intervention. If I were to walk down the street and see a 6-foot-4 man punching a 5-foot man, would I be maintaining societal peace by ignoring it and allowing the bigger man to continue delivering a beating? Or would I be passively intervening on the side of the bigger man by not trying to stop the attack? Perhaps it depends on whether I could alter the course of events, but that's only apparent after the fact, and the probable outcome should not influence the ethics. Yet we live in a world in which accepting the impossibility would be chaotic, for there would be too many things to intervene in. Instead, it requires some discrimination of importance and values. My point, then, is that one must be prepared to redefine definitions and perceptions of non-interference. If the Thai government were to give money to Myanmar's junta, that would be obvious interference. But wrap it up in a business transaction between two state-run companies, and suddenly it becomes perfectly acceptable. Moreover, tangible interference, such as financial benefits from state-run companies, appears less interventionist than abstract forms, but it shouldn't be the case. Imagine that an ASEAN state came out in direct support of the NUG but merely offered words of encouragement and solidarity. Realistically, that would change nothing on the ground in Myanmar, yet this might be seen as a clear example of interference (as the junta is now alleging against Timor-Leste). Yet Southeast Asia's state-run companies can boost the profits of the junta's businesses, thereby providing hard cash to the junta for its war machine, and nobody bats an eyelid (as in the case of Thailand's state-run firm). As the norm of non-intervention is being eroded, maybe now's a good time for a rethink about whether ASEAN sticks with the lowest-resolution definition, which has become: Don't criticize the sitting government of another country. It cannot merely be the bubble wrap slogan: if you haven't something nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Scoop
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
From Seussical To Self-Belief – Celebrating 20 Years Of Kids Shining Onstage
On 27 June, 250 of Tāmaki Makaurau's young performers – from first-timers to seasoned stars – will take to the stage for opening night of the LITTLE UMBRELLA production of Seussical. When the curtain goes up it will mark 20 years of National Youth Theatre (NYT) – a moment not just of celebration, but of reconnection. 'In a world dominated by screens these young performers are stepping out of the digital world and into the spotlight, reminding us of the power of real-life connection, creativity, and shared experiences that screens cannot replicate,' says James Doy MNZM, NYT Chief Executive. 'For the audience it's a chance to witness the energy, courage, and creativity of our wonderful young performers.' Seussical invites audiences to see all your Seussian tales wrapped up into an amazing musical for the whole family - a crazy blend of Horton Hears A Who and The Cat in the Hat, with shout outs to just about every other Seuss book imaginable. These beloved characters and stories weave together in a whimsical and wacky musical extravaganza, played out against an uplifting score from Tony winners Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens, highlighting the show's universal messages of love and acceptance - reminding us all that "a person's a person, no matter how small." Seussical is the third show with NYT for 19 year old Jackson Terry, who is playing Horton the Elephant. 'Horton is shy but very caring and compassionate fellow and he cares a lot more about other people's misfortunes than his own and sometimes it gets him in trouble,' Jackson says. Originally from Whangārei, he says theatre helped him find his place in the world. 'Growing up it is hard to know where you fit in in society, I played sports growing up but I never really found my thing, my people. For me musical theatre is a really nice way to find where you fit in.' Playing the iconic Cat in the Hat is 16 year old Jordan Ria D'Mello, in what will be her 18th show with NYC 'The Cat in the Hat brings a lot of mischief and causes a lot of trouble in the show,' Jordan says. She's confident and vibrant in her role, but this wasn't always the case. 'I was four years old and watching the shows and I would be mesmerised, so I started as soon as I could. When I first started I was very shy and I found it very scary, but it helped me build my confidence and break out of my shell.' For more than two decades, National Youth Theatre, a registered charity, has helped over 10,000 rangatahi and tāmariki across Aotearoa discover their voice through musical theatre - building confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills that stretch far beyond the stage. 'We're incredibly proud of what this team achieves,' says James Doy. 'Watching our young performers grow in confidence, take on bigger roles, and eventually step into leadership positions behind the scenes is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.' NYT's all-access programme welcomes everyone, with no auditions required and over 200 cast members vying for lead roles. With backing from LITTLE UMBRELLA and Auckland Live, the production also supports youth employment in backstage and technical roles, reinforcing the theatre's deep roots in the community. The cast are urging people to buy tickets and support this one-of-a-kind celebration – which perfect for families and schools. 'Come along and reconnect with the magic of live performance,' Jordan says. 'All the practice and rehearsing we have done, we bring our all. The moment you step on stage you can feel the audience's energy, you want to give your best.' Performance: Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland · Friday, 27 June, 7:00 PM · Saturday, 28 June, 1:30 PM & 7:00 PM · Sunday, 29 June, 1:30 PM · Tickets: $35.00 –$65.00 (plus fees), Ticketmaster
