Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BEIJING393
2010-02-18 07:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

PRC-INDONESIA: INCREASED PRC DIPLOMATIC

Tags:  PREL ECIN ASEAN CH ID XC XE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6484
OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHGH RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBJ #0393/01 0490708
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 180708Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8132
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000393 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2035
TAGS: PREL ECIN ASEAN CH ID XC XE
SUBJECT: PRC-INDONESIA: INCREASED PRC DIPLOMATIC
ASSERTIVENESS, UNDERLYING TENSION

REF: 09 BEIJING 1973

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 (B/D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000393

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2035
TAGS: PREL ECIN ASEAN CH ID XC XE
SUBJECT: PRC-INDONESIA: INCREASED PRC DIPLOMATIC
ASSERTIVENESS, UNDERLYING TENSION

REF: 09 BEIJING 1973

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson for reasons
1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: PRC State Councilor Dai Bingguo's "warm,
friendly" January 21-26 visit to Indonesia reinforced the
perception that China-Indonesia relations have been
relatively free of tension of late; however, in reality PRC
diplomatic assertiveness with Indonesia has risen steadily in
recent years, according to an Indonesian Embassy official.
The Indonesian official suggested that the strong (per usual)
PRC reaction to the United States announcement of arms sales
to Taiwan and to the President's plan to meet the Dalai Lama
is intended to preserve domestic political legitimacy and to
warn other countries that there are consequences for
violating PRC "core interests." These warnings have
influenced Indonesia's posture on PRC "core interests."
Competition between Indonesia and China for influence in
Southeast Asia, combined with past frictions, creates an
undercurrent of tension in the bilateral relationship,
according to the Indonesian diplomat. END SUMMARY.

Indonesian Views on PRC Diplomatic Assertiveness
-------------- ---


2. (C) The PRC was increasingly assertive in its interactions
with Indonesia, but there had not been any recent spike in
diplomatic pressure, Indonesian Embassy PolCouns Gudadi
Bambang Sasongko told PolOffs February 8. As evidence of
growing PRC assertiveness, Sasongko noted past PRC objections
to proposed visits of the Dalai Lama and the May 2006 transit
of Taiwan then-President Chen Shui-bian as well as the PRC's
strong reaction to June 2009 arrest of Chinese fisherman in
Indonesia's EEZ. During the July 2009 visit of Indonesian
then-Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, PRC officials had
insisted that the sailors had been fishing in "historical
fishing grounds" and had reiterated extensive PRC claims in
the South China Sea by flatly declaring to the Indonesians:
"We have a border." Most recently, however, Sasongko said,
relations had been relatively tension-free as evidenced by

State Councilor Dai Bingguo's late-January visit to Indonesia.


3. (C) Sasongko suggested that Indonesia's growing caution on
PRC "core interests," (i.e., not hosting the Dalai Lama and
maintaining non-official, commercially-driven ties with
Taiwan) had spared Indonesia from the type of diplomatic
protests that the PRC had recently directed at the United
States. While the PRC had never threatened Indonesia with
specific measures for violations of its "core interests,"
Indonesia was not ready to risk PRC retaliation that might
undermine Indonesia's economic development. Negative PRC
reactions to Dalai Lama meetings with French President
Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel had also influenced
Indonesia's posture on these issues. Despite PRC
sensitivities on Taiwan, Indonesia continued to welcome
discreet Taiwan investments because they created local
employment. In contrast, he said, PRC investment projects
consisted mainly of "building a bridge" but resulted in few
jobs for Indonesians.


4. (C) Sasongko stated that Indonesia paid close attention to
PRC reactions to U.S. actions and argued that the PRC
reaction to the U.S. announcement of arms sales to Taiwan and
President Obama's plan to meet with the Dalai Lama was not
only a sign of displeasure with the United States but also
reflected PRC leadership desire to preserve its domestic
legitimacy as well as the PRC's international image as a
rising power that must be respected.

State Councilor Dai Visit to Indonesia
--------------


5. (C) State Councilor Dai Bingguo had enjoyed a "warm,
friendly" visit to Indonesia January 21-26 at the invitation
of Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and
Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Sasongko said. Dai had met
with President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono, and
signed a plan of action for the implementation of the
PRC-Indonesia strategic partnership. Neither side had raised
contentious issues, and there was no discussion of
differences over implementation of the China-ASEAN FTA, which
took effect January 1. The two sides had discussed plans for
President Yudhoyono to attend the Shanghai World Expo, but
specific dates had not been set, according to Sasongko.

Competing Vision for Region
--------------


BEIJING 00000393 002 OF 002



6. (C) Sasongko asserted that Indonesia was the only country
in Southeast Asia that consistently and unequivocally upheld
democracy and human rights as key principles and took action
through the Bali Democracy Forum to push for political
progress throughout the region. The PRC preferred to focus
regional attention on economic integration and sought to put
off political differences until economic interdependence had
taken further root. This divergence between Indonesia's
focus on regional political development and China's emphasis
on regional economic integration, as well as past historical
tensions with the PRC, contributed to friction in the
bilateral relationship. Still, according to Sasongko, both
sides sought to keep relations in a positive direction
through the PRC-Indonesia strategic partnership.
HUNTSMAN