‘Cold War’ climate must be avoided in Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region should avoid slipping into a Cold War-style environment of mutual suspicion and hostility, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa says, as the US and China test each other in the South China Sea.

Speaking at an event set up by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC last Friday, Marty said that as a geopolitical shift from Southeast Asia to the Asia-Pacific region takes place, states find themselves in an intriguing position.

“Indonesia believes that the Asia-Pacific region need not slip into a Cold War-type environment of mutual suspicion and hostility,” he said in a speech before members of the Banyan Tree Leadership Forum.

“In this, ASEAN’s role will continue to be invaluable,” he said.

Indonesia has helped build the ASEAN community and is promoting that global values underpin regional architecture, whilst supporting the participation of the US and Russia in the upcoming expansion of the East Asia Summit, Marty said.

“For Indonesia, it is consistent with our desire to see a dynamic equilibrium in our region,” he said.

Marty added Indonesia strived to create “a state of affairs marked by an absence of a preponderant power. Of inclusion rather than exclusion. Of states working in concert, sharing a common interest in addressing shared challenges.”

Marty has been in the US for the United Nations’ General Assembly.

A millennium development goals summit is also being held from Monday until Wednesday, on the sidelines of the assembly, while ASEAN leaders are scheduled to meet US President Barack Obama on Friday to discuss ways to bolster their alliance and discuss economic cooperation and security issues, including the South China Sea disputes.

Marty said that “diplomacy and dialogue are the preferred means of conflict resolution rather than the use or threat of use of force” in facing regional problems.

Tense local incidents have occurred between vessels of both China and the US since the Asian country deployed more destroyers in the area, which was previously widely patrolled by the US and its allies.

There are continuing tense exchanges between the two world powers manifested in words and tensions over naval exercises while the US insists China bring the South China Sea disputes into a world forum, while China wants them handled discretely and bilaterally.

China has accused the US of pursuing its national interests in the resolution of these issues and concerning freedom of navigation in the area, said Rizal Sukma, executive director of the CSIS in Jakarta, in a recent opinion piece in The Jakarta Post.

“This recent spat between China and the US over the South China Sea was only a continuation of a series of events that point to a growing difficulty in the two countries’ bilateral relations,” he said.

Rizal also said the South China Sea disputes were also a test for ASEAN-China relations.

“For members of ASEAN, what is more worrying is the possibility that the South China Sea could be a central theater for possible rivalry [for influence in the region between the US and China],” he said.

Other experts have warned the Indonesian government against being caught in the middle of a struggle between the US and China.

Recent US moves to restore cooperation with the Indonesian Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) and to join the East Asia Summit were aimed at gaining Indonesian support against China, experts said.

“It is clear that the US has sought Jakarta’s support in its disputes with China in many areas, from currency appreciation to military power to human rights,” said University of Indonesia international relations expert Syamsul Hadi.

But Indonesia should avoid becoming a buffer for the US in facing China because it would harm its relationship with Beijing, he said.

“We are tied more closely to China than to the US, geographically and economically. If we risk ruining our relationship with China, it will be more harmful,” he said.