US Secretary of State includes Indonesia on first tour of Asia
Updated
Hilary Clinton is on her first trip to Asia as the new United States Secretary of State. Observers have welcomed a decision to include Indonesia on the tour. Some say it could be a precursor to the US President Barack Obama visiting Indonesia himself, which could signal a significant shift in American foreign policy.
Presenter: Zulfikar Abbany
Speakers: Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State; Dr Malcolm Cook, programme director for East Asia, Lowy Institute, Sydney
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COOK: I think if that were to come off and certainly there are rumours that that's the reason that Indonesia was added to the standard trip of the major North East Asian powers, that would be a huge statement both for President Obama and his new approach to the Muslim world, but it would also probably be equally as important for the United States relations and image in South East Asia if you were to choose for example Indonesia as the first Muslim majority country to make a speech about the new administration's approach to the Islamic world.
ABBANY: Now Hilary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, she's on her first tour of Asia as the Secretary of State. Of course she's going to be visiting some you could say perhaps predictable countries, or at least make some predictable stops - South Korea, China, and Japan has been the first stop. But Indonesia - what exactly does she have planned in Indonesia?
COOK: I think the most interesting part of her schedule that's being leaked is the visit to the ASEAN Secretariat. I believe that she will be the first US Secretary of State ever to visit that building, and that would send a strong message that the United States will place more emphasis on ASEAN as an important organisation, which would be read very well in the region as well.
ABBANY: Well the stop has been leaked but are there any more details such as whether Hilary Clinton will meet with the Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan?
COOK: I'm pretty sure she will and I'm pretty sure Secretary General Pitsuwan will make sure his schedule allows for that. One of the issues that might be a change of policy in the United States, or an advance of policy, will be the United States is the only major power in the Asia Pacific not to have signed on to the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and even North Korea have signed on to this pact, as it's called. The United States is the only one not to have signed on to it - and Australia of course has as well.
ABBANY: So what would you read into that if the US did sign that treaty?
COOK: It would be a big statement of closer engagement and recognition of ASEAN's central role in the region. It would also allow the United States to get an invitation to the East Asia Summit, which is a regional organisation centred in ASEAN, and without a doubt if the United States were to be invited to the East Asia Summit, that would probably give that new organisation, which Australia is a member of, a great lift in profile and potential.
ABBANY: You've mentioned of course Australia's relationship with ASEAN and we know that Australia has traditionally seen Indonesia as sometimes a difficult cousin or at least its relationship has been slightly difficult. But they've been, traditionally, regional partners. And I'm wondering whether America now with its new administration is sort of taking back the mantle of Australia's status as the sheriff down here? Should Australia be perhaps worried that America is moving into its area, moving onto its patch?
COOK: I think most of it will be the either way, many Australian governments, maybe all of them, have always encouraged Washington to focus more attention both on South East Asia and Indonesia. So I'm sure that Australia would welcome very much if the United States were to turn its gaze more closely and more often onto South East Asia and Indonesia.
