Donald Rumsfeld, US defence secretary, has signalled a US desire for a more co-operative security relationship with China and the rest of Asia, in contrast to his criticism a year ago of Beijing’s increased military spending and habit of secrecy.
Although he urged China to “demystify” its defence budget, Mr Rumsfeld – speaking in Singapore – uncharacteristically declined to be drawn into further comments that might be viewed as confrontational by Beijing.
“Now we see an expanding network of security co-operation in this region, both bilaterally between nations and multilaterally among nations – with the United States as a partner,” Mr Rumsfeld told the annual Asian security conference organised by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. “We see this as a welcome shift.”
Mr Rumsfeld reserved most of his venom for Iran, which he described as “the leading terrorist nation in the world”. He criticised the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, which groups central Asian states with China and Russia, and meets in Shanghai this month, for debating membership for Iran.
It was, said Mr Rumsfeld “unusual” for an organisation committed to fighting terrorism to consider such an offer.
Security analysts at the conference of defence ministers and experts, known as the “Shangri-La Dialogue”, said Mr Rumsfeld’s less confrontational stance reflected the fact that Washington’s political influence in Asia was waning despite its unmatched military might.
“I think it’s clear that there is a kinder, gentler view in the Pentagon towards China,” said Ralph Cossa, president of the Pacific Forum CSIS, a foreign policy research institute.
Washington had successfully moved to reconcile the hardline views of some Pentagon officials with the more conciliatory approach of the State Department, Mr Cossa said. “The Bush administration has taken to heart the criticism about the appearance of two China policies.”
Bilateral military relationships and alliances such as the one with Japan remain vital for the projection of US power in Asia. Mr Rumsfeld, who visits Vietnam and Indonesia this week, deliberately emphasised the importance of “inclusive, multinational institutions” such as the Asean Regional Forum hosted by south-east Asia, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum (Apec).
