Further efforts needed to strengthen future RI-China ties

Further efforts needed to strengthen future RI-China ties

By Desra Percaya

This is the second of two articles exploring the significance
of President Abdurrahman Wahid's visit to China.

LONDON (JP): Despite its contribution to seek a peaceful
solution to the South China Sea conflict, Indonesia was
unexpectedly drawn into a dispute with China. This was
particularly apparent after China produced a map showing its
southern territorial claim, which incorporated Indonesia's rich
Natuna gas field in the South China Sea.

The mood in Jakarta was decidedly unhappy when China stood by
its claim and led to a official request for clarification from
Beijing. Indonesia's rejection of China's stance was mainly based
on two grounds. First, China's historical claim to the South
China Sea as part of its national heritage was not strong enough.
Second, the implementation of the principle of the Archipelagic
State is contrary to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, because China is a continental state.

Although China has no claim to the Natuna Islands, it has
still not declared whether it will lay claim to the gas and oil
fields less than 225 kilometers from the Natuna Islands.

In addition to continuing a dialog with China, Indonesia has
also increased its vigilance by taking military action. This was
made evident in 1993 when it expanded its military capabilities
by purchasing new armaments.

By 1995, Indonesia had embarked on a tough line by conducting
a series of military exercises in the Natuna Islands. Second, it
had concluded a defense agreement with Australia. Although both
actions were not necessarily directed against China, many
observers believed that at that time China was being held in mind
by Indonesian leaders.

In the aftermath of the 1965 coup attempt, China was
implicated in the incident and further perceived as a source for
the communist threat. In fact, coexisting with China in her
backyard presents a formidable threat, not in the conventional
sense of outright threat, but more specifically in terms of
China's interference in Indonesia's domestic affairs through the
exploitation of the ethnic Chinese community and support for the
revival of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

The New Order perception was supported by historical facts. On
some occasions the interaction between elements within China, the
PKI and the ethnic Chinese have undermined Indonesia's interest
in creating stability and the nation-building process.

When the new government took power in Indonesia, President
Abdurrahman Wahid was determined to completely erase the legacy
of the New Order's policy on China. In this regard, Abdurrahman
was quoted as saying that it was nonsense to still be haunted by
the communist threat when the international community and even
the communists themselves had lost faith in their ideology (The
Jakarta Post, Dec. 3).

Accordingly, it is now time for the new government to deliver
on its commitments. An initial action to remove barriers for visa
applicants from China, as well as other necessary measures to
address the ethnic Chinese issue, would definitely be of help in
encouraging the development of cooperation between the two
countries.

Indonesia appreciates the attitude of the Chinese government,
which so far has restrained from "interfering" in Indonesian
affairs, particularly with regard to the ethnic Chinese. China
appeared to adopt silent diplomacy and understand the complexity
of the problem. This was obvious during the May 1998 riots in
which a number of ethnic Chinese became innocent victims. Despite
fears that making a public comment would incite anti-Chinese
feelings in Indonesia, Beijing was fully aware of the presence of
elements hostile to China. Therefore, it should maintain its low-
profile attitude.

More importantly, both governments should intensify contacts
not only at the official government level, but also on a personal
level. These measures should help create a better environment
between the two governments and their people. Transparency and
better understanding should definitely exist between the two
countries.

Therefore, fully integrating the ethnic Chinese as part of the
Indonesian nation is one of the issues that Abdurrahman's
government must immediately address, regardless of the fact that
certain elite Indonesian leaders remain suspicious of China and
ethnic Chinese.

With regard to the South China Sea dispute, Indonesia should
continue its active role in seeking a peaceful solution to the
conflict. Unfortunately, China ought to do more on this issue.
Despite its diplomatic language, in order to find a comprehensive
solution, China must deliver on its promises with a consistent
and constructive attitude.

Meanwhile, other claimants should realize the dynamics of
Chinese domestic politics in which there are competing forces
that are constantly attempting to hold sway over China's policy
on the issue. However, this reality should not be used as an
excuse to tolerate China's action in the dispute. China's
willingness to clear the air with Indonesia on the issue of the
territorial water around the Natuna Islands should bring about a
better environment in the region.

With Abdurrahman's ascendancy to power, there has been a
change of government in Indonesia. It was not unreasonable
therefore, for him to pay a visit to those countries which are
considered strategically important to Indonesia, such as China.

As well as introducing himself as the new Indonesian leader,
Abdurrahman also used the opportunity to reassure his counterpart
of Indonesia's readiness to strengthen bilateral and regional
cooperation, as well as to address international issues of
concern to both countries. The fact that the occasion was
President's first official visit abroad once again underlines the
importance of China to Indonesia's new government.

The visit could not be separated from Indonesia's domestic
reality. The most current pressing problems for Abdurrahman are
how to maintain Indonesia's unity and overcome economic collapse.
Accordingly, his main priorities are to maintain national unity
and territorial integrity as well as to revive Indonesia's
economic development.

Therefore, Abdurrahman's visit has successfully secured
China's support for the maintenance of Indonesia's unity and
territorial integrity. The visit also symbolizes Indonesia's
determination to increase cooperation with China, particularly in
the economic field.

Although Abdurrahman's visit did not directly address the
outstanding issues between Indonesia and China, he at least
showed his determination to embark on a new beginning in
Indonesia-China relations.

Abdurrahman's reassurance that Indonesia will address anti-
Chinese sentiment should be applauded as a brave and honest
statement. At the end of the day, the visit should create a
better understanding between the two countries which will benefit
both people.

The writer is a PhD candidate in the School of Politics at
Durham University in the United Kingdom.