From a galaxy far, far away, the Russian Darth Vader lands in Asia, filled with suspicion and hate. He leaves convinced that Asia's "motives are good" and that it may hold the force to reshape the world.
The skit at a gala dinner by the Russian delegation, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dressed as Star Wars villain Darth Vader, was yesterday the talk of a security conference hosted by ASEAN.
Other performances late on Thursday by foreign ministers, part of an annual ASEAN tradition, included Australia's Alexander Downer singing an Elvis Presley number.
"It's now or never," Downer crooned, "let's consummate, fulfil the promise, a summit date," he sang to whistles and laughter.
Downer this week committed Australia to ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), reversing an earlier stance and securing a place at a summit that could lead to the creation of a new East Asian community.
"Only yesterday TAC did not rate, and just in time, I've changed my mind ... it's great," he sang, his delegation twirling blue feather boas behind him.
Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew wore dark sunglasses to lead a black-suited "rat-pack" that teased the Australians.
"Australia wants in ... their way of saying they're not really Yanks," he sang. "Take down tariffs and open up trade ... in ASEAN style, it could be delayed, but so what?"
US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick was the stereotypical cowboy, singing the Wild West tune Oh My Darling, Clementine. His delegation stood stiffly by in cowboy costumes.
But all paled in comparison to the Russian skit, delegates said.
Wearing a dark brown cape and hood -- Darth Vader's heavy breathing was difficult to create in the low-budget production -- Lavrov brandished a lighted sword as he and his assistant argued about Asia to the tune of Jesus Christ Superstar.
"ASEAN, Superstar" they sang. "Do you think you're what they say you are? ASEAN, ASEAN! Why we accept whatever you have done?"
The skit was peppered with one-liners by Lavrov, who asked why Australia was present and got the reply: "Probably the kangaroos like Asian grass."
Behind him a Powerpoint display showed a world map with most countries, including the US, labeled as East Asia.
Darth Vader left singing with the crowd: "ASEAN, Superstar. You are the best friend of Russia."
The skits are a regular feature of a gala dinner for the ASEAN foreign ministers and the major powers with which they hold a dialogue.
Yesterday, the foreign ministers launched a Web site for sharing intelligence information on terrorism and were also expected to discuss the dialogue on North Korea's nuclear program, officials said.
also see story:
Asian security put at risk by Taiwan's exclusion from ASEAN forum: analysts
Six-party talks to go on as long as necessary: US
A Chinese aircraft carrier group entered Japan’s economic waters over the weekend, before exiting to conduct drills involving fighter jets, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said yesterday. The Liaoning aircraft carrier, two missile destroyers and one fast combat supply ship sailed about 300km southwest of Japan’s easternmost island of Minamitori on Saturday, a ministry statement said. It was the first time a Chinese aircraft carrier had entered that part of Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a ministry spokesman said. “We think the Chinese military is trying to improve its operational capability and ability to conduct operations in distant areas,” the spokesman said. China’s growing
Nine retired generals from Taiwan, Japan and the US have been invited to participate in a tabletop exercise hosted by the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation tomorrow and Wednesday that simulates a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan in 2030, the foundation said yesterday. The five retired Taiwanese generals would include retired admiral Lee Hsi-min (李喜明), joined by retired US Navy admiral Michael Mullen and former chief of staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces general Shigeru Iwasaki, it said. The simulation aims to offer strategic insights into regional security and peace in the Taiwan Strait, it added. Foundation chair Huang Huang-hsiung
PUBLIC WARNING: The two students had been tricked into going to Hong Kong for a ‘high-paying’ job, which sent them to a scam center in Cambodia Police warned the public not to trust job advertisements touting high pay abroad following the return of two college students over the weekend who had been trafficked and forced to work at a cyberscam center in Cambodia. The two victims, surnamed Lee (李), 18, and Lin (林), 19, were interviewed by police after landing in Taiwan on Saturday. Taichung’s Chingshui Police Precinct said in a statement yesterday that the two students are good friends, and Lin had suspended her studies after seeing the ad promising good pay to work in Hong Kong. Lee’s grandfather on Thursday reported to police that Lee had sent
A Chinese ship ran aground in stormy weather in shallow waters off a Philippines-controlled island in the disputed South China Sea, prompting Filipino forces to go on alert, Philippine military officials said yesterday. When Philippine forces assessed that the Chinese fishing vessel appeared to have run aground in the shallows east of Thitu Island (Jhongye Island, 中業島) on Saturday due to bad weather, Philippine military and coast guard personnel deployed to provide help, but later saw that the ship had been extricated, Philippine navy regional spokesperson Ellaine Rose Collado said. No other details were immediately available, including if there were injuries among
RSS