ASEAN needs to speak up on China-U.S. talks

ASEAN needs to speak up on China-U.S. talks

BANGKOK: Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) are watching on the sidelines of the China-United States
spy-plane talks, which began yesterday in Beijing. Certainly,
whatever the two superpowers have chosen to say and do, it is
unlikely they would have the Southeast Asian region on their
radar screen. It is up to ASEAN whether or not to speak out since
the region also has a stake in this unfortunate development.

So far, ASEAN has been mute over the mid-air collision with
the spy plane out of fear that their comments could jeopardize
delicate relations with China. Although both Vietnam and the
Philippines have said something, they were very cautious, as they
are major claimants in the South China Sea area.

The regional grouping wants to be seen as a neutral party. But
some ASEAN ambassadors based in Washington DC have already
expressed concern that the China-U.S. spy-plane talks will take
time and eventually render long-term ramifications for the region
-- which has been a hotbed of competition between the two global
giants over the past five decades. If the talks do not go well,
they may affect upcoming regional meetings on economic and
security matters.

Aides to President George W. Bush have said it is possible
that as a retaliatory measure, the president would cancel his
visit to Beijing and Shanghai, where he expects to participate in
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

If that comes about, it will have a domino effect on other
regional meetings that involve both China and the United States.

Judging from the political scheme of things in the two
countries, the bilateral talks will drag on for some weeks. After
the release of the 24 U.S. crew-members, leaders of the two
countries have changed their rhetoric and become more assertive
in their comments, especially on the U.S. side.

For the time being, Washington has achieved its objective by
getting their citizens back safely, which was of the utmost
importance to the Bush administration. China also got what it
wanted.

However, these negotiations are a different ball game, if the
two parties have to discuss the legalistic nature of their
encounter over the South China Sea. Beijing has urged Washington
to stop the surveillance flights, while the latter has insisted
they will continue.

But this time around, ASEAN can, if it choses, be more
proactive. Otherwise, the grouping will be treated as just a pawn
in the U.S.-China "struggle". ASEAN has to make it known it will
not tolerate any future action that would compromise their
position on the South China Sea.

China's heavy-handed attitude towards the United States has
already sent a chill down the spines of ASEAN leaders. When it
comes to China's national interest and, in this case,
sovereignty, the Middle Kingdom would not care whether the
dispute was with the United States or ASEAN.

Therefore, ASEAN needs to increase consultation on this issue.
Nations have to define where they stand. The outcome of the
China-U.S. talks will affect ASEAN claimants one way or another.
The grouping has been reluctant to form any common position
against China, except briefly in March 1995 over the Mischief
Reef incident.

Now, with the U.S. involved, ASEAN needs to step forth,
because it wants to keep the disputed territorial issue alive in
international forums.

-- The Nation/Asia News Network