David Bosco suggests in this morning’s The Multilateralist that the current ASEAN Secretary-General,
“Surin Pitsuwan, a former Thai foreign minister (and a Muslim) who was a serious contender for the UN’s top job during the last election…might yet get another shot…“
if Ban’s performance continues to draw criticism.
U.S. officials were pushing for Pitsuwan to enter the race in 2006, according to the Bangkok-based The Nation, and believed his candidacy would have also received China’s support. If “people in the circles of Susan Rice and Hillary Clinton [remain] very negative to Ban,” the United States-ASEAN summit later this month may provide them an opportunity to evaluate Pitsuwan as a candidate and possible replacement for Ban.
A Pitsuwan candidacy would ensure that the “Asia’s turn” at the Secretary-Generalship continues through the traditional second term, making Ban’s replacement much less antagonistic toward Asian governments (read, China).
