America has a newfound interest in Asia

The weeklong visit to four Asian countries by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is testimony to the Obama administration's sincerity about making a difference in its Asian policy. In the past the US talked a lot about Asia but with little tangible action, but it seems now that the US will match every commitment with deed. That is a good beginning. Secretary of State Clinton has made the right decision to come to Asia before making the usual trip across the Atlantic to Europe. Her visit will generate much confidence and engender a forward-looking attitude among Asian countries about engaging with the US in the most constructive ways.

Clinton's itinerary reflects both the old and new reality in this part of the world. Japan, China and South Korea remain the prime movers and shakers in East Asia. It has been that way since the end of the Second World War, and their economic imperatives have made these three Asian powers formidable. The level of friendship or adversity among them can affect the region's economic development and stability.

During her visit, Clinton must find ways to ensure that these three countries - with different historical baggage and experiences, not to mention different levels of mutual trust - continue their cooperation and strengthen their relations further.

For the US strategic interest, the region's solid economic development will derive from the cooperation and trust between these countries. Their common prosperity will have ripple effects for the whole region. In the post-Cold War period the US was used to the strategy of divide and rule between China and the two freer economies of Japan and South Korea. However, the growing importance of China and its integration with the global economy, particularly with the US, has made rapprochement and further cooperation between the US and China possible.

The issue is: Can Washington consolidate its China relations while maintaining the same relationship with Japan and South Korea, which are staunch allies? The answer will have much to do with the US's attitude towards China and its engagement with the rest of the region.

Obviously, the global financial crisis has made the trio more willing to cooperate with one another. The least the US can do is to ensure that this cooperation is not obstructed.

It would be wise for the US's new Asian policy to promote cooperation and stability within the region. Therefore it is crucial that the US finds ways to encourage and support the emerging East Asian community, which is still in the making.

In the past decade, the idea of such a community was, to some extent, hindered by the US's unwillingness to yield. Washington's view was that any new regional organisation in this part of the world would be an attempt at isolating the US. Now, with new leaders in the White House and at the State Department, the US can make history by encouraging Asian community building. This eventually will benefit the US global strategy as a whole.

What is new in the Asian policy of President Barack Obama is the recognition of Indonesia as a fresh player in the US global strategy. The young democratic nation with the world's largest Muslim population is increasingly a factor to be reckoned with and will play a crucial role in the continued stability and prosperity of the Asean region. Credit has to be given to the Indonesian leaders who were forward-looking and recy in bringing peace to Aceh and East Timor. This is an Indonesian quality that Thai leaders need to emulate.

Indonesia's political stability and rapid democratisation has increased its strategic value many-fold. It has the world's fourth largest population and is no longer the sick man of the region. A decade ago, it used to be the lowest common denominator within Asean. If Jakarta said no to any scheme, no to any cooperation, no progress within the grouping could be made. Now the opposite is true; Indonesia has become a liberal driving force within Asean, in making it more open, transparent and more people-oriented. Both Indonesia and Thailand are strong supporters of the liberal Asean Charter and the proposed Asean human rights body. This is a good outlook that Thailand should be happy with.

It is fortunate that the Abhisit government has accorded top priority to working closely with Indonesia and its leaders. For instance, with Thailand as the current Asean chair, Abhisit knows that he must seek advice from Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in preparation for his participation at the G20 Summit in London.

Secretary of State Clinton has made the right choice with her first overseas visit, and there should be more trips in the future. With the increased presence of the US Secretary State in the region, we can genuinely say that the US is really interested in Asia.