Befriending Asia's powerful but forgotten giant<\/p>\n
Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to India was,
\nfrankly, little noticed here in Jakarta. There was not the
\ncustomary ferment of intellectual discussion that usually ushers
\nin state visits to China, Japan or the United States.<\/p>\n
Despite its deep-rooted ties to this archipelago, India has
\nfallen off Indonesia's political radar in the last three decades.<\/p>\n
Consigned to the historical fable of the Non-Alignment
\nMovement, only dimly remembered for its help in the independence
\nstruggle, perhaps best known for its cultural \"gifts\" -- the
\nbeads and baubles of Bollywood and sexy dangdut music, New Delhi
\nis not instinctively considered by most Indonesians as a
\nstrategic ally of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Susilo's three-day visit there marks an
\nimportant step for Indonesia's diplomatic positioning in the
\npolitical landscape of Asia.<\/p>\n
Asia's geopolitical structure will in less than two decades be
\ndominated by the rising regional powers of China and India. Their
\ninteractions with the U.S. hegemony, which in Asia is represented
\nby Japan, are likely to become central issues for the region.<\/p>\n
Despite some comparative economic advantages, it is no
\nexaggeration to say that most other Asian countries, including
\nperhaps Indonesia, will be standing at the feet of these giants.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesia is no fringe player in this coming
\nconfiguration, even if it cannot match India and China
\neconomically or militarily.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's abundance of resources -- its population,
\nterritorial size, natural resources, and geographic location --
\nis more-than-adequate political capital to assume the role of
\nregional interlocutor between these competing powers.<\/p>\n
Already we are seeing the Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN) perform this function as host of the East Asia
\nSummit in three weeks.<\/p>\n
This initiative may suffice for smaller members of the
\ngrouping. But it is not for a country like Indonesia that must
\nalso adopt a linear approach through bilateral contacts.<\/p>\n
Many things have been predicted of China and many of these
\npredictions will come true. It will be an irrepressible force in
\nthe near future. That is why Jakarta and Beijing have both made
\nintense efforts -- bilaterally and through ASEAN -- to forge
\ncloser strategic partnerships in many fields.<\/p>\n
Compare this with the recent mutual neglect of the Jakarta-New
\nDelhi relationship, which a year ago was largely ceremonial
\npleasantries.<\/p>\n
Though engaging China is all-important, Indonesia cannot
\nafford to overlook India. It cannot place its eggs in only one
\nbasket, the reality of realpolitik requires a counterbalance to
\nthe emerging power to the north.<\/p>\n
To some degree there is strategic parity today between China
\nand Indonesia\/ASEAN. But this is equilibrium will not last as
\nChina becomes increasingly stronger.<\/p>\n
There is confidence that China will develop into a benign and
\nresponsible power but no one can foretell the natural instincts
\nof a giant.<\/p>\n
This is not to say that China should be looked upon with
\nsuspicion, or that Indonesia should attempt to ally with one
\nregional power against another.<\/p>\n
However, the trouble with standing at the feet of giants is
\nthat whether intentionally or not, there is a every possibility
\nthat one may be stepped on.<\/p>\n
This explains the role of India as an offset to a potential
\nChinese hegemony, and the reason why Indonesia was so insistent
\nthat India be included in the new East Asia Summit framework due
\nto be unveiled in Kuala Lumpur next month.<\/p>\n
We also forget that India is not some far-off location. We
\nIsland on the northwestern-most tip of Indonesia is less than 250
\nkilometers from India's Nicobar Islands. That's the same distance
\nfrom Jakarta to the West Java town of Garut.<\/p>\n
The fundamentals of closer strategic cooperation are self-
\nevident. Culturally and historically, India is Indonesia's most
\nnatural ally. The only other nation that comes as close is
\nperhaps Malaysia, which shares a common cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
Of course, New Delhi shoulders equal blame for the current
\ndistance. It is far behind China in courting Indonesia. China's
\ninvestment is growing and its bilateral trade with Indonesia,
\nwhich stands at about US$15 billion, could double in a decade.
\nIndia on the other has just $4 billion worth of trade with
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
More importantly, Indonesia is overcoming its wariness of
\nmilitary cooperation with China.<\/p>\n
Though China should be welcomed as a new development partner
\nand a source of foreign capital, Indonesia should now pursue
\nsynergies with New Delhi with the same vigor<\/p>\n
There is hope that 2005 will be a turning point in relations
\nbetween Jakarta and New Delhi. Leaders of both countries have
\nexchanged visits and an impressive Indian naval armada docked
\nhere earlier this year. Susilo and Indian Prime Minister Prime
\nMinister Manmohan Singh will again cross paths at the summit in
\nKuala Lumpur next month.<\/p>\n
The momentum is building, and as Indonesia looks up to these
\nemerging giants, it is in our interest to keep India -- and China
\n-- on equal footing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/befriending-asias-powerful-but-forgotten-giant-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}