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.