"In a concerted effort to overcome opposition from Asean member countries, the Foreign Ministry has redefined the concept of ?flexible engagement? which will be officially presented as a non-paper when the Asean foreign ministers meet in Manila. Several Asean members have expressed reservations after Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan urged in his proposal last month that they should be more open with each other and have frank discussions on domestic issues which have implications on other members and the group?s destiny. In effect, he called for a review of the Asean way of doing things. Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and Burma believe that member countries should not tamper with the principle of non-interference. In other words, they view the Thai initiative as a non-starter. The Philippines, which is host to the meeting, is the only country which has given strong endorsement to Surin?s proposal, and said it will be one of the major subjects on the agenda to be discussed. The other Asean countries are lying low adopting a wait-and-see attitude..."