Tokyo, Japan - Three Asian countries out of the world's top five energy consumers are conspicuously missing from the international efforts to end the crisis in Middle East. This, however, does not mean that China, Japan and India are not interested in stability. Quite the contrary.
China and India now import about half of their oil needs from the Middle East. The real reason why they are absent from the scene is that the Bush Administration see their motives - especially China's motives - as competing against American interests.
It is true that China offers a very different model for countries in Middle East. High economic growth without democratic reforms appears to be attractive to many monarchs. China's missile exports to Iran and Saudi Arabia may have negative impacts on the region's security. Likewise, India is unnervingly cooperative with Iran in various fields.
But, neither China nor India is anti-Israel. The Jewish state's arms export to China is second only after Russia. India and Israel have been working very closely in such sensitive areas as intelligence and security. The truth is simple: Both China and India have complicated interests in the very complicated region.
It is high time to reconsider the two emerging Asian powers' diplomatic potentials in the region. They can exercise different kinds of influence over several key players including Iran. If the U.S. can utilize the two countries' desires to keep stability, the international community will be more equipped to solve the region's conflicts.
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