Experts call for new design of RI foreign policy
Veeramalla Anjaiah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Asia -- the world's newest strategic hub of world politics and trade -- must find a new mechanism called "Concert of East Asian Powers" to maintain an equilibrium among the big powers in the Asia-Pacific and East Asian regions, a foreign policy expert said in Jakarta.
Jusuf Wanandi, an expert on foreign policy matters, said Indonesia and other Asian countries were now grappling with new hurdles arising from globalization, terrorism and the emergence of China and India as new powers.
"Indonesia is now faced with some new challenges in its strategic environment at the regional and global level. These include the present and future challenges. We cannot stop globalization because it is so powerful. Even regional organizations like the EU (European Union) find difficulty in facing (globalization) effects," Jusuf, who is also the founder of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said at a seminar on Wednesday.
International terrorism, according to Jusuf, created more problems and its effects were felt all over the world. The emergence of China and India as new powers created new challenges in Asia.
"That's why, international as well regional cooperation is very important in dealing with these new challenges. But our main focus should be to establish true democracy, economic growth and social justice," Jusuf said.
But the existing regional organizations like ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) and APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) are not enough to create a new equilibrium among the big powers in Asia-Pacific and East Asian regions.
"There is a need for the establishment of a G-8 (Group of Eight) type group in East Asia like the real G-8 at the global level. East Asia's G-8 members would likely be the U.S., Japan, China, India, Russia, South Korea, Australia and ASEAN. That system, which would coordinate efficiently the diverse activities in the region, could be named something like the "Concert of East Asia Powers", Jusuf said.
The seminar, which was organized by the CSIS in connection with the celebration of 60 years of Indonesia's independence, was aimed at seeking input for finding a new design for Indonesia's foreign policy.
Thanks to its free and active foreign policy, Indonesia has so far been able to pass through several difficult times during the last 60 years. The fast-changing international political landscape will be a litmus test for Indonesia in the near future.
Indonesian foreign policy, according to Jusuf, really needed a new design, which must focus on the changes in the international arena -- regional and global. These changes will pose a great many challenges to Indonesian foreign policy in the future.
Meanwhile, former foreign minister Ali Alatas said that people must be careful in defining such a new foreign policy design.
"The new design means adjusting ourselves to the changing situation. But we should not forget that there is nothing wrong in the basic philosophy of our present foreign policy. It's a question of radical adjustment, Alatas, the country's diplomat emeritus, said.
While commenting on the free and active foreign policy, the noted economist and former minister of environment Emil Salim said Indonesia must take a firm position on international issues.
"For example, we don't have a clear stand on the United Nations reforms. We have been changing sides on many issues. That's why we must take a position on issues like human rights, environment, gender and poverty," Emil said.
Indonesian foreign policy, according to Emil, must be Asian- oriented.
"The world is changing. Interdependence is the name of the game. We should depend on Asia because it is the future of the world," Emil said.
The CSIS came out recently with a book titled Mencari Desain Baru Politik Luar Negeri Indonesia (In Search of a New Design for Indonesian Foreign Policy). The book, edited by Bantarto Bandoro from the CSIS, consists of 11 papers written by well-known foreign policy experts on various topics related to foreign policy.