'China's interests in SE Asia often opposite of U.S.'

'China's interests in SE Asia often opposite of U.S.'

Foster Klug, Associated Press/Washington

China's actions in Southeast Asia are often at odds with the United States, most strikingly in its support of Myanmar's military dictatorship, a State Department official said on Wednesday (Thursday in Jakarta).

Eric John, a top Asian specialist at the State Department, told a U.S. Congressional hearing on Southeast Asia that China's focus in the region appears to be primarily economic, noting its trade with the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) jumped 30 percent last year.

But, he said, there are also concerns that as China pursues its business interests, it's also increasing its political influence in the region. Several lawmakers expressed concern with what they consider China's increasing military and economic support of the generals running Myanmar, also known as Burma.

"I think a lot of Chinese interests run very much counter to what U.S. interests are" in Southeast Asia, John said. "They are not there to promote democracies. They are not there to promote human rights. They are not there to promote freedom of expression and movement."

Still, he said, China's economic expansion in Southeast Asia is "almost always a good thing," because stronger business ties have improved the lives of many in the region.

Several lawmakers, however, said China could eventually threaten U.S. interests in the region. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said the United States must be "in opposition morally to the effect that the Chinese government is having on Southeast Asia."

He added that China "is the unseen hand behind the dictatorship in Burma. ... The Chinese dictatorship has armed the Burmese military."

Several countries in the region, including China and Thailand, believe that talking to Myanmar is the best way to spur democracy. The United States refuses to deal with the generals, and has imposed sanctions until political prisoners are released and democratic freedoms restored.

Thailand's foreign minister on Tuesday criticized sanctions as hurting the people of Myanmar.

John said the United States was working to persuade China and Thailand to rethink its Myanmar policy, which he called "unfortunate."

The United States, he said, was also committed to "ramping up how we deal with Burma," including strengthening sanctions.

As a success in the region, John cited Indonesia's "democratic transformation" after three decades of dictatorship as a "remarkable window of opportunity" for the United States to strengthen relations with both Indonesia and the Muslim world. Rep. Robert Wexler said more should be done to support President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

"We have the largest Muslim nation in the world that has now elected a democratically positive president, that is thirsting for a stronger, better relationship with the United States," Wexler said. "And for some reason we haven't responded as totally as we could."

Rep. Eni F.H. Faleomavaega praised a recent peace deal with rebels in Indonesia's Aceh province.