THE RISING EAST
Triple Alliance backs U.S. in war on terrorism

By Richard Halloran

Two journeys to Tokyo last week underscored the forging of a new, albeit informal, Triple Alliance — Japan, Australia and Britain — that stands alongside the United States in the war on terror.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, left, and his Japanese counterpart, Junichiro Koizumi form a Triple Alliance, along with Britain's Tony Blair, in support of the U.S. fight against terrorism. Associated Press

That is the demand of President Bush, who has lumped North Korea with Iraq and Iran in an "axis of evil."

Then, Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, fresh from a visit to Washington, followed Howard to Tokyo to agree that both pressure and negotiations were needed to get North Korea to give up its nuclear program.

Koizumi, Howard and Blair have been marching along parallel roads for many months. Each took a strong diplomatic stance in support of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Each has been vigorously opposed at home for taking that stance. All three have dispatched armed forces to Iraq — Britain and Australia with troops on the ground, Japan with warships and logistics vessels at sea.

Perhaps most important, all three have given the same reason for aligning themselves with the United States: It serves their national interests now. As Lord Palmerston, the famed British prime minister, asserted in the 19th century: "We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow."

The Japanese, Australian and British leaders have sided with the United States not because they think the Americans are good guys, or even that President Bush was right to invade Iraq. They decided, in line with the Bush maxim "You are either for us or for the terrorists," that it is better to be allied with the world's superpower than to be opposed to it.

Their reasons for looking to America for political and military backing are not difficult to discern:

• Many Japanese have expressed concern recently over an immediate threat from North Korea, which has 200 to 300 missiles that could reach Japan, is pursuing nuclear weapons, and has abducted Japanese citizens. In the longer term, Japan is wary of the emergence of a potentially powerful and belligerent China.

• Australians are worried about what they call the "Near North," Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Muslim extremists exploded a bomb in a Bali nightclub in October 2002 that killed nearly 200 people, many of them Australian tourists. The same extremists are known to be operating in several other Southeast Asian nations.

• The British face an attempt by France and Germany to turn the European Union into a bloc that would dominate Britain and contain American influence. Britain, which has long sought to maintain a balance of power in Europe, has been part of a Triple Alliance before, including one with Sweden and the Netherlands against France in 1668.

Beyond power politics, the immediate benefit gained by the Triple Alliance nations is quick access to the highest levels in Washington. As an Australian white paper stated this year: "We have never been better placed to put our views before the United States — and have them heard — including on issues where we disagree."

Contrast that position with the anti-American posture of France, whose leaders slammed the United States on July 14, Bastille Day, then announced that France would not send troops to help police strife-ridden Iraq. It does not take a degree in political science to conclude that the French ambassador's telephone calls to the White House are not likely to be answered readily.

For the United States, the Triple Alliance provides a triangle of democratic allies on islands off the eastern, southeastern and western shores of the Eurasian land mass. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz took note of two of the three nations when addressing the recent Shangri-la conference of defense ministers in Singapore. He said:

"Japan is in the process of its own national-level evaluation and planning process, driven in part by new threat dynamics, and will make decisions based on its own needs as well as the perceived strength of our relationship.

"Australia's central role in Iraq, its support to coalition efforts in Afghanistan, and its commitment to fight terrorism at home proves once again how valuable it is to have an ally that takes security and its commitments to the common defense seriously."

Last week in Washington, President Bush was unstinting in his praise of Blair, adding: "The British and American peoples will hold firm once again, and we will prevail."

Richard Halloran was formerly a New York Times reporter in Asia.