曼谷：泰国副总理兼外交部长西哈萨·蓬凯特克奥表示，随着东南亚国家联盟（东盟）应对日益激烈的地缘政治竞争，该区域集团必须继续基于自身利益作出决策。
BANGKOK: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must continue to make decisions based on its interests as the regional bloc navigates growing geopolitical competition, said Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.
西哈萨于11月5日在ISEAS圆桌会议间隙接受CNA采访时表示，东盟将继续避免在大国之间选边站队，但也承认中立性有其局限。
Speaking to CNA on the sidelines of the ISEAS Roundtable on Nov 5, Sihasak said ASEAN would continue to avoid taking sides among major powers but acknowledged that neutrality has its limits.
他说：“我们绝对不会选边站，（但）同时，我们不能永远保持中立，因为我们也必须作出符合我们认为的自身利益的决策。”
"We're not going to take sides definitely, (but) at the same time, we cannot be neutral all the time because we also have to make decisions consistent with what we consider to be our interests," he said.
西哈萨强调，东盟在应对大国竞争、特别是中美竞争时必须保持团结，同时保留与所有伙伴接触的灵活性。
Sihasak stressed that ASEAN had to remain united in navigating competition among major powers, particularly China and the United States, while preserving the flexibility to engage with all partners.
他补充道：“我们希望与在该地区有利益的其他大国接触：印度、日本、韩国、澳大利亚和欧盟。这将使我们拥有更大的战略自主权和更大的选择自由。”
"We want to engage the other major powers who have interest in the region: India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the European Union. This will allow us to have greater strategic autonomy and greater freedom of choice," he added.
呼吁建设更有回应力的东盟 除了大国竞争，西哈萨还指出了该地区面临的更广泛挑战，包括冲突、经济不确定性和快速的全球变化。
CALL FOR A MORE RESPONSIVE ASEAN Beyond great-power rivalry, Sihasak also pointed to broader challenges confronting the region, including conflicts, economic uncertainty and rapid global changes.
他强调了对能源和粮食安全的担忧，表示中东冲突凸显了东盟加强现有机制的必要性，例如石油安全安排、紧急大米储备。西哈萨还提到东盟电力网络等长期倡议，称该集团应扩大区域电力互联互通，增加清洁和可再生能源的使用。他说：“东盟必须迎难而上。”
He highlighted concerns over energy and food security, saying the conflict in the Middle East had underscored the need for ASEAN to strengthen existing mechanisms such as petroleum security arrangements emergency rice reserves Sihasak also cited longer-term initiatives such as the ASEAN Power Grid, saying the bloc should expand regional power connectivity and increase the use of clean and renewable energy. "ASEAN has to rise to the occasion," he said.
“我们现在面临的挑战，与过去面临的挑战不同。这些挑战正在同时汇聚，世界也正经历一场重大转型。”西哈萨克补充说，东盟应加强“在危机时期更快采取行动”和“及时做出决策”的能力。
"The challenges we face now are not challenges like we faced in the past. These are challenges that are converging at once, and the world is also going through a major transformation." Sihasak added that ASEAN should strengthen its ability to "act more quickly in times of crisis" and "make timely decisions".
东盟核心地位 关于东盟核心地位，西哈萨克表示，这意味着维持东南亚的和平，并为更广泛的印太地区稳定作出贡献。
ASEAN CENTRALITY On ASEAN centrality, Sihasak said it meant maintaining peace within Southeast Asia and contributing to stability in the wider Indo-Pacific region.
“核心地位首先是保持我们地区的和平。核心地位也意味着为更广泛的印太地区带来和平，”他说。
"Centrality first is keeping peace in our region. Centrality also means contributing peace to the broader region of the Indo-Pacific," he said.
在承认东盟在应对大国竞争方面面临的挑战的同时，西哈萨克表示希望华盛顿和北京将继续努力稳定关系。
While acknowledging the challenges ASEAN faces in navigating competition among major powers, Sihasak expressed hope that Washington and Beijing would continue efforts to stabilise ties.
“我们的希望是，这两个对地区和世界都至关重要的大国，能够尽可能地管理和稳定它们的关系，”他说。
"Our hope is that the two major powers, whose relationship is so consequential to the region and to the world, would try to manage their relations and stabilise their relations as much as possible,” he said.
缅甸的未来 西哈萨克将于周四（11月12日）前往缅甸，推动其持续内战降级，并评估该国在11月15日至18日于马尼拉举行的东盟峰会之前，重新与该集团接触的准备情况。
FUTURE OF MYANMAR Sihasak will be travelling to Myanmar on Thursday (Nov 12) to push for de-escalation in its ongoing civil war and assess the country's readiness to re-engage with the bloc ahead of the ASEAN Summit in Manila from Nov 15 to 18.
他告诉CNA，目前还为时过早，无法确定该国领导人是否最终能够重返东盟高层会议。
He told CNA it is still too early to determine whether the country's leaders could eventually return to high-level ASEAN meetings.
自2021年东盟领导人决定在军事政变之后，仅邀请非政治代表参加，且缅甸未能实施该集团结束敌对行动的五点共识以来，缅甸军政府实际上一直被排除在该集团的最高级别会议之外。
The military government has effectively been excluded from the bloc's top gatherings since ASEAN leaders decided in 2021 to invite only non-political representatives following the military coup and subsequent failure to implement the bloc's Five-Point Consensus peace plan.
东盟的五点共识 2021年军事政变之后，东盟一直将缅甸排除在高层会议之外，因为该国尚未在结束敌对行动的五点共识上取得有意义的进展。
ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus Following a 2021 military coup ASEAN has excluded Myanmar from high-level meetings as it has yet to make meaningful progress on the bloc's Five-Point Consensus to end hostilities.
2021年4月的一次会议上，所有东盟领导人就缅甸局势达成了共识。五点内容是：第一，缅甸应立即停止暴力，各方应保持最大限度的克制。
During a meeting in April 2021, all ASEAN leaders reached a consensus about the situation in Myanmar. The five points are: First, there shall be immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and all parties shall exercise utmost restraint.
第二，有关各方应启动建设性对话，为人民利益寻求和平解决方案。
Second, constructive dialogue among all parties concerned shall commence to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the people.
第三，东盟主席国特使应在东盟秘书长协助下推动对话进程的调解。
Third, a special envoy of the ASEAN chair shall facilitate mediation of the dialogue process, with the assistance of the secretary-general of ASEAN.
第四，东盟应通过东盟灾害管理人道主义援助协调中心提供人道主义援助。第五，特使和代表团应访问缅甸，会见有关各方。
Fourth, ASEAN shall provide humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre. Fifth, the special envoy and delegation shall visit Myanmar to meet with all parties concerned.
今年2月，西哈萨在普吉岛与缅甸 counterpart 丹瑞举行非正式会谈后，呼吁与缅甸进行“有分寸的重新接触”。此举招致批评，批评者指责泰国帮助缅甸军政府实现正常化。
Collapse In February, Sihasak called for a "calibrated re-engagement" with Myanmar after holding informal talks with his counterpart Than Swe in Phuket. The move drew criticism from those who accused Thailand of helping to normalise the military regime.
当被问及到2028年泰国从新加坡接任东盟主席国时，缅甸领导人是否可能被允许重新参会，西哈萨表示，这将取决于缅甸国内的事态发展以及东盟成员国的集体决定。
Asked whether Myanmar's leaders could be allowed back by the time Thailand assumes the ASEAN chairmanship from Singapore in 2028, Sihasak said the decision would depend on developments inside the country and a collective decision by ASEAN member states.
“这首先取决于缅甸局势如何演变，也取决于东盟集体作出的决定，”他说。
"It depends on first how the situation in Myanmar evolves, and it also depends on the decision to be taken by ASEAN collectively," he said.
“我们的目标是让缅甸重返东盟，因为没有缅甸的参与，东盟就不是一个完整的大家庭。”
“Our goal is to have Myanmar return to ASEAN, because ASEAN is not a complete family without the participation of Myanmar.”
但西哈萨也指出，缅甸必须“努力重新赢得其在东盟的位置”。“这不是泰国能决定的，”他说。
But Sihasak also noted that Myanmar has to “work hard to regain its place in ASEAN.”"It's not Thailand's decision,” he said.
西哈萨补充说，他将在访问内比都期间传达这一信息，同时表示希望五点共识取得进展。
Sihasak added that he would carry that message during his visit to Naypyidaw, while expressing hope for progress on the Five-Point Consensus.