Susilo, Howard make their pitch in U.S.

Susilo, Howard make their pitch in U.S.

S.P. Seth, Sydney

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's recent U.S. trip, and his
attendance at the UN summit, is one of those exercises which
heads of states and governments usually do. Therefore, not much
is expected by way of concrete results. This indeed seems true of
Susilo's visit too. These trips are generally pleasant
distractions from the pressures of domestic politics, with
foreign hosts making the visitor feel all important and most
relevant to them and their state of affairs.

Well, all good things must come to an end. Susilo is now back
home to deliver goods, not an easy task in a country where less
has to mean more. Still, if he has managed to evoke U.S. interest
and attention to the urgency of Indonesia's situation in terms of
trade, investments and foreign debt, it would help ease Susilo's
tasks at home. Not surprisingly, Susilo has been working to
create a better image of Indonesia in the United States.

At the same time, his neighbor, Australia, is seeking to
create some political space for its diplomacy between the United
States and China. It is well-known that Australia is one of the
United States' closest political and military ally.

Canberra played an important role in bringing about an
independent East Timor. It is now part of the 'coalition of the
willing' in the U.S.-led military operations in Iraq. It has
steadfastly supported the United States in its political and
military missions across the globe, including vis-a-vis China.
For instance, during the Taiwan crisis of 1996 at the time of its
presidential elections, Australia was one with the United States
to deter China from any use of military force.

Lately, though, there has been some change of emphasis.
Without question, Australia's alliance with the United States is
still the cornerstone of its foreign and security policy. But its
perception of China as an inevitable security threat has
undergone important change. For instance, Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer reportedly said, while in Beijing a while ago,
that Australia's ANZUS security treaty with the United States
didn't necessarily mean Australia's involvement in a military
conflict over Taiwan.

Prime Minister John Howard, though, has been more diplomatic
by brushing away such questions as hypothetical. He even refused
to buy into President Bush's invitation, during a July visit to
the United States, to " work together to reinforce the need for
China to accept certain values as universal-the value of minority
rights, the value of freedom of people to speak..."

Howard had earlier spelled out the rationale of his
government's new China policy during a speech in Beijing in
April. He said at the time, "If you want to build an enduring
association with a nation, you should do it within a realistic
framework. You should not allow it to be dominated by differences
and dominated by history."

In other words, Australia prefers to concentrate on a growing
economic relationship between the two countries. China has
contracted to buy billions of dollars worth of gas from Australia
over two decades or more. Australia is also supplying other raw
materials for China's surging economy. Indeed the current slack
from a slowing housing sector is being made up by the growing
demand from China for Australia's mining and other resource
materials. And it is getting much higher prices for its
commodities because of the robust global demand.

China is also keen to invest in Australia's resources sector.
And they are launched on a free trade agreement. One can,
therefore, see how important China is becoming to Australia's
economic prosperity. China is also very important in terms of
Australia's engagement with Asia. With Beijing's imprimatur,
Australia's Asian credentials will become more credible.

But Beijing feels uncomfortable about Canberra's American
connection. Its U.S. alliance is seen as directed to contain
China, at least until very recently. That would make dependence
on Australia for essential resources for China's economic growth
a dicey thing.

And Australia has been doing its bit to reassure China in this
regard. It is still an enthusiastic U.S. ally, but is seeking to
extract political autonomy in its relations with China. Indeed,
in some ways, it is even becoming a spokesman of sorts for China
and that too in the United States.

Speaking at a recent Asia Society function in New York, Prime
Minister John Howard conceded that China's rise would inevitably
place stress on the international system. He then forcefully
said, "But to see China's rise in zero-sum terms is overly
pessimistic, intellectually misguided and potentially dangerous."

He went on to make a strong case on China's behalf. He said,
"Its economic liberalization and integration into the world
system has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
Its growth in recent years has helped to sustain the expansion of
the global economy and of world trade."

John Howard, though, knows that Taiwan is a serious obstacle
between China and the United States, and fervently hopes that it
would be resolved peacefully. But if this were to develop into a
military conflict, Australia might have to excuse itself from
entering the fray.

Howard is not apologetic about Australia's newly-found
passionate advocacy of China's growing role in Asia-Pacific,
regarding it as natural and for good. He believes that,
"Australia's strong relationship with China is not just based on
economic opportunity." According to him, "We seek to build on
shared goals and not become obsessed with those things that make
us different."

Did Howard mean that the United States was obsessed about
China? He obviously wouldn't. And he heaped praise on the United
States' global leadership role, and as a Pacific power. To quote
Howard, "America is a great Pacific power and, as has often been
the case, it fulfills its regional role most powerfully when it
provides global leadership."

He added, "America's alliance relationships, including with
Australia, will be the anchors for that U.S. presence."

Only time will tell how Australia will do this Houdini-like
act of reconciling its U.S. alliance with China's rising power in
Asia-Pacific! But it will certainly please Beijing that Canberra
is pitching for it in the United States. Washington won't like
it, but Australia remains its strategic ally.

At about the same time as Howard was speaking in New York,
Susilo was doing his bit to make friends and influence powerful
people in the United States to promote Indonesia. Indonesia
certainly is now more visible in the international community but
there is a fair way to go.

The author is a freelance writer. He can be reached at
SushilPSeth@aol.com.