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