ASEAN-Japan's plan<\/p>\n
The co-chairs of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN)-Japan commemorative summit, President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, were
\nevidently happy when they announced on Friday the outcome of the
\nsummit to commemorate the 30th year of friendly relations
\nbetween the regional grouping and the world's second most
\npowerful economy.<\/p>\n
The President was happy because ASEAN, and largest member
\ncountry, Indonesia, would get reap economic benefits from the
\nTokyo Action Plan. The Prime Minister was satisfied because the
\n10 countries supported Japanese leadership in achieving the
\nlatter's ambition in creating the East Asian Community (EAC),
\ncomprising ASEAN countries and their dialog partners Japan, China
\nand South Korea.<\/p>\n
It is interesting to note that ASEAN also agreed to enhance
\npolitical and security cooperation with Japan, including military
\naspects. This means that the regional grouping has been more
\nacceptable of Japan's rising security role and that Japan is
\nbecoming more confident about its relatively new role.<\/p>\n
We regard this as a positive development, because it is time
\nfor Japan to free itself from its historic trauma and contribute
\nin positive ways to maintain peace, especially in Asia.<\/p>\n
ASEAN, especially Indonesia, initially was not very
\nenthusiastic when Koizumi announced his EAC plan in January last
\nyear, even at the ASEAN annual summit which was held in Bali in
\nOctober - where they also met with their dialog partners -- when
\nthe Association leaders decided to create the ASEAN community in
\n2020.<\/p>\n
Japanese rejection to sign the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
\n(TAC) was also discouraging for ASEAN. In the words of Foreign
\nMinister Hassan Wirayuda, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao,
\nstole the show by signing the TAC and reiterated his commitment
\nfor a speedy free trade agreement (FTA) with ASEAN. Japan felt it
\nwas left behind by China in a territory where Japan has played a
\ndominant economic role for decades.<\/p>\n
ASEAN realized that it should play the driving force role from
\nthe very beginning of the EAC process, while benefiting from the
\nrivalry of Japan and China, and also from South Korea which is
\nincreasingly frustrated by North Korea's unpredictable
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
Positively, because ASEAN has a strong interest that Japan and
\nChina will remain on good relations for the sake of stability in
\nthe region.<\/p>\n
China is growing fast. Japanese private companies, the biggest
\ninvestors and trading partners in the region, are now
\nconcentrating their business in China and many of them have been
\nleaving Southeast Asia since the economic crisis in 1997.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has probably suffered the most. Their Japanese
\ninvestment exodus from the region has also triggered other
\nforeign investors to leave. Koizumi's EAC incentive is expected
\nto be able to lure the investors back.<\/p>\n
In terms of government to government relations, there is great
\nconcern on how long Japan will remain enthusiastic about their
\nambitious plan to enhance relations with ASEAN. If the decision
\nis based more on the China factor or the temporary global
\ncondition, it means once the problems are solved, Japan will
\nloosen its own commitment.<\/p>\n
As the Tokyo commitment has no definite time framework it will
\nbe easy to find excuses to abandon it. Although we must remember
\nwe can not blame only one side because the two parties must
\nmaintain the momentum to make the commitment remain relevant.
\n Japan has also pledged to accelerate the FTA process with ASEAN
\nmembers although the speed is different from one country to
\nanother. However as most of the countries are agricultural
\nproducers, will Japan be ready to be more open with their
\nproducts? During the media conference, Koizumi frankly admitted
\nthat agriculture issues were politically sensitive for Japan.<\/p>\n
At least for the moment, ASEAN countries can not hope to
\nexport more farm products unless Japan is ready to be more
\nflexible. Farmers in Southeast Asia will only acknowledge
\nJapanese sincerity when the latter can prove that it is ready to
\nbuy more commodities from them. Rhetoric alone will only worsen
\nsituation.<\/p>\n
There is one example indicating that Japan often fails to
\nunderstand the needs of its neighbors. When journalists from
\nASEAN asked for the copy of the Tokyo declaration after the
\nKoizumi-Megawati press conference, Japanese officials told them
\nto check the website. They did not realize that not all of the
\njournalists had time and equipment to print it. It is a very
\nsimple matter, but reflects the lack of awareness of the others'
\nneeds.<\/p>\n
Despite these potential problems, we do hope that the results
\nof the summit will improve the prosperity of the people in
\nSoutheast Asia and Japan, and will become a historic document.
\nThe consistent hard work and commitment by both sides are the
\nmain key for the success to realize the goal of bringing
\nprosperity and security to the people of Southeast Asia and East
\nAsia.<\/p>\n
Without such commitment the Tokyo summit will be only be
\nremembered as a merry birthday party, very cheerful but quickly
\nforgotten.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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