Koizumi's ASEAN swing will certainly lay a stronger foundation
\nfor the two sides to embark on a new and equal footing
\npartnership in the post terrorist attacks on the U.S.<\/p>\n
Koizumi's ASEAN swing<\/p>\n
Bantarto Bandoro
\nEditor, The Indonesian Quarterly
\nCentre for Strategic
\nand International Studies
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Countries of ASEAN are now rapidly recovering from the currency
\nand economic crisis it has experienced since 1997 with the active
\nassistance of Japan. There was also a perception that a strong
\ninterdependence was shared among the East Asian countries
\nincluding Japan and ASEAN countries as a result of the crisis.<\/p>\n
The statement of Indonesia's foreign minister that the
\nAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations members are "alive" again
\nreflects a claim that ASEAN must keep up its outward-looking
\nspirit by involving itself more deeply and actively in an even
\nmore complex international diplomacy. Koizumi's visit to ASEAN
\nmember countries takes place against the background of ASEAN
\nreadiness to boost its regional and international standing.<\/p>\n
However, Koizumi's visit to Indonesia, the largest member of
\nASEAN, will be shadowed by doubts whether Indonesia under
\nMegawati can really convince the Japanese leader that Indonesia
\nis now safe enough for a long term and sustainable foreign
\ninvestment.<\/p>\n
Besides, because Indonesia-Japan bilateral relations is
\npreoccupied much by the issue of Overseas Development Aid (ODA),
\nthe continuation of a present aid policy of Japan towards
\nIndonesia will be tested against Megawati's sincereness to tell
\nthe Japanese leader that the ODA funds are not misused in a way
\nthat brought huge profits to certain groups of national companies
\nor even to her own party's related organization. It is reported
\nthat Japan cringes at Indonesia's attitude of "easy ask easy
\nlend" which has aggravated the ODA issue.<\/p>\n
Koizumi was to have visited ASEAN countries last September,
\nbut the trip was postponed following terrorist attacks in the
\nUnited States. Since the attack, Japan seemed to have been locked
\ninto the United States arms in combating international terrorism.<\/p>\n
Japan's decision to adopt an anti terrorist law confirmed
\nJapan's place in the U.S. anti terrorism strategy. But Japan
\ncannot let itself to be too preoccupied too long by its anti
\nterrorism policy at a time when it needs to broaden its regional
\ndiplomacy -- which perhaps serves more promises for its long term
\nand stable economic development. Prior to the terrorist attack,
\nthere was an impression that Koizumi has left Asia in the lurch
\nas he initiated policy to strengthen Japan's ties with the U.S.<\/p>\n
Thus, Koizumi's visit to Southeast Asia is perhaps meant to
\nalter the impression that Japan is leaving Southeast Asia. It
\nhas been the basic policy of Japan that Japan put great
\nimportance in its diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian
\ncountries. The statement made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo
\nFukuda that there can be no Japanese diplomacy without Southeast
\nAsia countries reflects Japan's concerns of the vulnerability it
\nmight encounter in the future if Japan neglects the strategic
\nimportance of ASEAN and the Southeast Asia region.<\/p>\n
As globalization rapidly progresses around the world, the
\ninterdependence of Japan and the ASEAN countries is being
\nincreasingly heightened.<\/p>\n
Japan, looking on ASEAN as a vital partner of the peace,
\nsecurity and prosperity in the East Asia, has been making every
\npossible efforts toward further development of cooperative
\nrelations with ASEAN. Japan traditionally concentrates its ODA to
\nthe ASEAN region, and recently put more focus on new ASEAN
\nmembers. ASEAN and Japan have also long been closely knit by
\ntrade and investment.<\/p>\n
It is reported that Koizumi will introduce his proposal for a
\nregional economic alliance. The alliance would include Japan, the
\nmembers of ASEAN, the United States , Australia and New Zealand.
\nThe proposal is expected to include free trade agreements (FTAs)
\nbetween ASEAN and Japan, an accord linking Southeast Asia and
\nJapan.<\/p>\n
Koizumi's idea however was greeted with skepticism inside
\nJapan, arguing that Japan can always talk about free trade and
\ndeeper economic relation, but actually Japan has cut back on the
\nODA to Southeast Asian countries. It is widely known that
\nrecently Japan is under severe fiscal constraint and has been
\ncutting back on the domestic spending. Thus there is very little
\nprospect that Japan can play a major role in such regional
\nscheme.<\/p>\n
There is also the question where China would fit into
\nKoizumi's regional economic plan. The newcomer to the World
\nTrade Organization and rising economic power recently had a
\ndispute with Japan over Chinese agricultural exports to Japan.<\/p>\n
Despite skepticism, Koizumi is out to Southeast Asia to pitch
\nan idea that will drag the region into a more challenging and
\ncompetitive regional economic configuration. Koizumi will reveal
\nhis major policy steps in his keynote speech in Singapore. To
\nsome, the decision to have Singapore as a place for announcing
\nJapan's new regional policy is quite provoking, if it is seen
\nfrom the perspective of which countries in the region play the
\nmost in influencing the development of the region .<\/p>\n
As analysts say, such a decision, diplomatically, may become
\nan embarrassment for Megawati's government. There is some truth
\nin the argument. The fact that Indonesia is the largest and most
\ninfluential country in the region failed to become a magnet. The
\ninability of Megawati's government to solve the current crisis
\nwill further strengthen the perception that Indonesia is still a
\nSoutheast Asian giant with feet of clay. One then wonders what
\nMegawati will put forward in her talk with the Japanese leader.<\/p>\n
Will she easily ask for "a bucket of money" or is she out to
\nconvince her counterpart that Indonesia is prepared to take part
\nin a more competitive and challenging economic environment of the
\nregion?<\/p>\n
One thing that makes sense in Koizumi's ASEAN swing is his
\npledge to strengthen Japan's relationship with Southeast Asia
\nwith financial cooperation as the core of such efforts.<\/p>",
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