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)