With Mr Trump's strategic interests in trade, investment and security, the gathering of regional and world leaders is a lost opportunity for improvement of human rights in the region. The deteriorating human rights situations in the five countries will thus not be on the agenda at the meetings of the 10-member grouping. In Vietnam, more than 100 human rights activists and dissidents have been put in prison, while the government has continued to crack down on those criticising the state. Sadly, Mr Trump will not ask them to improve their human rights records in exchange for better relations with the US. But world leaders can elevate the issue to the international level and exert a certain level of pressure on the region's authoritarian leaders.

Source: Bangkok Post November 11, 2017 21:56 UTC