[Tlc] FW: Military Buildup Casts Shadow on China's Soft Power Inroads in Asia

[Michael Montesano]

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Military buildup casts shadow on China's soft power inroads in Asia

WASHINGTON, Aug 12 (AFP) -- China may be making huge strides in
projecting "soft power" in Southeast Asia amid US preoccupation in Iraq,
but the region remains wary of the Asian giant's military ambitions,
experts say.

Once a US stomping ground, Southeast Asia is seeing greater Chinese
involvement in diplomacy, trade, investment, cultural and educational
exchanges as well as foreign aid to less developed states.

A critical component of China's "soft power" diplomacy is the emphasis
on engaging the region as a whole -- unlike the United States, which has
focused primarily on bilateral relations.

The United States helped set up the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) as a bulwark against communism 40 years ago, but today
China is "increasingly the most influential external actor in dealing
with ASEAN," said Joshua Kurlantzick, a visiting scholar at the
Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Also, unlike the United States, China has acceded to ASEAN's Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation -- a non-aggression treaty -- and forged a free
trade agreement with the group comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Vietnam.

"This makes it appear like China is more committed to regional free
trade, and there has been much less protest in Southeast Asia against
the China deal than against some of the deals with the US," said
Kurlantzick, author of "Charm Offensive: How China's Soft Power Is
Transforming the World."

When Washington tightened visa policies after the September 11,
2001 attacks, Beijing moved to aggressively encourage Chinese education
in the region -- funding primary schools, setting up Confucian
institutes at universities, and offering scholarships and visitor
programs for rising Asian leaders, Kurlantzick said.

"As a result, China is going to train many of the next generation of
ASEAN opinion leaders, who once would have gone to the US or the UK or
Australia," he said.

Despite China capitalizing on US policy mistakes to boost its charm
offensive in the region, President George W. Bush's administration seems
unperturbed.

"Having more China does not mean less US in Southeast Asia,"
said US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill. "There is plenty
of room for all of us and we don't see China as a 'winner,'"
he said.

Hill said that Washington was not competing with China "for the hearts
and souls of Southeast Asia.

"In fact, we want Southeast Asia to have a good relationship with China.
We do not see this at all as opposed to our interests."

But China is beginning to notice US attempts to counter Beijing's
influence, especially amid concerns over Chinese military build-up that
could challenge traditional US naval dominance in the region.

At a recent seminar on trends in the distribution of military, economic
and "soft" power in Asia Pacific hosted by the US-based East-West
Center, Chinese participants cited perceived US attempts to build
"counter-Chinese coalitions" in the region, an expert said.

"Responses to the Chinese arguments, both by Americans and some other
Asian participants, were that China's open and positive approach is
welcomed and has improved China's image in the region,"
said Richard Baker, an Asia-Pacific expert at the center.

But, Baker, a former US diplomat, said the participants also noted
"lingering uncertainties and skepticism as to China's future conduct"
with its increasing "hard power."

Beijing announced an official military budget of 45 billion dollars for
2007. The US Defense Intelligence Agency however estimates that it is up
to three times the amount.

More specifically, China's naval buildup is sparking regional
insecurities and fueling an arms race according to Stratfor, a leading
US security consulting intelligence agency.

"The more China focuses on its maritime frontiers, the more alarm bells
will sound in East Asia and the United States," the agency said in a
recent commentary.

Against this growing suspicion, China has to show greater goodwill and
respect for its regional partners before its soft power is fully
effective in creating a "positive" image in the region, according to
some participants at the East-West Center conference.

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