Experts call for new design of RI foreign policy

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.