By Wang Yusheng
This autumn, two new leaders were elected that are good for the
Asia Pacific region.
In Japan, 71-year-old Yasuo Fukuda, replaced Shinzo Abe as the
prime minister in September.
Fukuda emphasized his country would attach more importance to
the United Nations and Asian countries, particularly relations with
China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), while
reaffirming that the Japan-US alliance would remain the cornerstone
of Japan's diplomacy.
He said one of the most important responsibilities for Japan was
to ensure the stability and prosperity of Asia.
Last month, Australian Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd swept to
power defeating Conservative John Howard.
The 50-year-old, known as a "moderate" was sworn in as
Australia's 26th prime minister.
Rudd emphasized safeguarding the Australia-US strategic
alliance; at the same time, he also pledged to promote and deepen
cooperation in various fields with Asian countries, particularly
China and India.
Different from his predecessor, he signed the Kyoto Protocol on
Tuesday as he had pledged he would do so in his election campaign,
ending his country's long-held opposition to the global climate
agreement.
The move isolates the United States which is now the only
developed nation not to ratify the agreement that sets binding
limits on developed countries to curb carbon emissions blamed for
global warming.
Rudd has also pledged to consult the US on withdrawing
Australian troops from Iraq.
Due to the Cold War mentality, Japan and Australia have always
been allies of the US in the Asia Pacific region. Japan, one part
of a triangle with the US and the Republic of Korea, serves as a
military "anchor" for the US in the north Pacific.
Australia, a "reliable friend" of the US in line with the new
military treaty between them, functions in the same way for the US
in the south Pacific.
The two countries consider the US as their "security umbrella"
and key economic partner.
That is why both Fukuda and Rudd reiterated the strategic
alliance between their countries and the US. This is normal and
understandable.
For one thing, they want to assure the US that bilateral
relations with Washington is of crucial importance to them; and
they do not want to stimulate or intensify conflict at home.
Besides, the two countries are acting in accordance with the
response from other Asian countries especially from China, India
and the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations.
From this perspective, we can safely say the strategy of the new
Japanese and Australian governments remains unchanged.
However, if we look at the strategic adjustment of the new
Japanese and Australian governments in their diplomatic policies in
the context of the current international environment of peace and
development, the strategy that Fukuda and Rudd will adopt is by no
means a simple one.
It is a change from "quantitive" to "quality". From what the two
leaders have stated in public, we can see that the diplomacy Japan
and Australia are seeking can only be good for the region.
First, the policies the two countries are likely to adopt are
going to be more independent than before. As to relations with the
US, the situation that Japan and Australia used to "dance" to the
tune of the US, is not likely to continue.
Second, in regard to international relations, the idealists who
advocate "new conservatism" in the US and the Japanese rightist
forces, will suffer a setback as the new leaders are dubious about
their preachings of an "alliance of democracies" and an "arch of
freedom and prosperity".
This is obviously of positive significance in further
eliminating the Cold-War mentality, getting rid of the China threat
theory, and building a harmonious Asia Pacific.
Third, it helps to improve and develop China-Japan relations and
China-Australia relations and is also conducive to regional
cooperation in East Asia.
It can be foreseen that the obstacles that hinder peace,
cooperation and common development in the Asia Pacific region will
lessen and impetus will be injected to boost coordination and
cooperation for common development.
It is also worthwhile to note that all these prospects are good
for the further development of China-US relations. Rudd was quoted
by China News Service on November 19 as saying that Australia can
play a positive role in the development of China-US relations in
the future considering the sound and strong ties that have been
built up between Australia and the US.
Rudd said sometimes there are tensions and conflicts between
China and the US, but his country is willing to take every
opportunity in the future to help maintain steady, peaceful and
prosperous relations between the two countries.
Australia is ready to try its best to safeguard the foundations
for world peace, stability and prosperity, Rudd said.
Indeed, not only are the Australian and Japanese leaders
reluctant to see conflicts between China and the US and a
deterioration of their relations, more and more countries hope that
constructive and cooperative relations between China and the US can
develop steadily to promote world peace and development.
The author is a Beijing-based researcher on international
relations
(China Daily December 7, 2007)
