"Supporting the emergence and consolidation of democracies and strengthening cooperative frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region was a particular focus of our attention," they said in a joint statement.
"We welcomed China's constructive engagement in the region and concurred on the value of enhanced cooperation with other parties such as ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and the Republic of Korea."
Yep. However little there is, we all welcome China's constructive engagement. The very focus on democracy is a bar way too high for Peking to meet. So we all welcome what little good China does but recognize that under the current regime there is no way they will ever do much more.
But don't think this is all about stopping China! Oh no:
China's growing influence was expected to a major issue at the talks following remarks by Rice earlier this week urging the Communist giant to explain its military build-up.
Downer Saturday moved to dampen fears that the trilateral meet was designed to produce a containment strategy on China, saying it was natural for three countries with so much in common to meet to discuss security.
At a press conference after the meeting, Downer sought to reassure China there was no "conspiracy" against it.
"This is a very natural relationship... and shouldn't be interpreted as an act of conspiracy against China, of course it's not," he said.
"It's not for China to feel that we are ganging up on China or that Australia is suddenly changing its policy on China."
Downer said the three countries were committed to helping Beijing participate fully in the region.
This is an alliance. And any alliance has a threat that the alliance is "allying" against. Sure, we all hope China won't activate this alliance, which increasingly will include India; but we are making it clear that it is up to China whether China participates fully in the region on our terms of democracy or faces powerful foes who will prevent them from being a threat to what we have built since World War II.
