Indonesia's President Joko Widodo with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. IRWIN FEDRIANSYAH
Australia and Indonesia have moved a step closer to joint patrols in the South China Sea after reaching an agreement to "explore options to increase maritime co-operation".
The move is part of Australia's strengthening of ties with Indonesia at a time of uncertainty in the region ahead of the US election next week and as Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte unsettles his neighbours by signalling a shift away from Washington, while becoming closer with Beijing.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo will make his first official state visit to Australia early next week.
"At the Australia-Indonesia 2+2 meeting last week, Foreign and Defence Ministers agreed to explore options to increase maritime co-operation," Defence Minister Marise Payne said in an emailed statement to The Australian Financial Review.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo will make his first official state visit to Australia early next week.
"At the Australia-Indonesia 2+2 meeting last week, Foreign and Defence Ministers agreed to explore options to increase maritime co-operation," Defence Minister Marise Payne said in an emailed statement to The Australian Financial Review.
"This could include co-ordinated activities in the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea consistent with Australia's policy of exercising rights of freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and our support for regional security."
Indonesia's Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Friday after a meeting with Ms Payne and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop that Canberra had "more or less agreed" to the joint patrols.
"We have already suggested to Australia the possibility of conducting joint patrols in the eastern part of the South China Sea," he said, according to a report in the Jakarta Post. "We are sure that we will soon create a plan on how to realise it."
Asked about the comments, Ms Payne confirmed the two countries had agreed to "increase maritime co-operation".
"Australia and Indonesia already conduct co-ordinated patrols and other joint activities and exercises," she said.
"We have already suggested to Australia the possibility of conducting joint patrols in the eastern part of the South China Sea," he said, according to a report in the Jakarta Post. "We are sure that we will soon create a plan on how to realise it."
Asked about the comments, Ms Payne confirmed the two countries had agreed to "increase maritime co-operation".
"Australia and Indonesia already conduct co-ordinated patrols and other joint activities and exercises," she said.
It is not clear whether the patrols would be done with Australian and Indonesian ships side-by-side or when they might occur.
"It's important not to telegraph freedom-of-navigation operations if they are going to be done," said Ashley Townshend, Research Fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
"It's important not to telegraph freedom-of-navigation operations if they are going to be done," said Ashley Townshend, Research Fellow at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
Undercut purpose
"This would undercut the purpose of the patrols and unnecessarily stoke public tensions with China. But if there was an agreement to talk seriously about Indonesia and Australia doing patrols side-by-side or in close succession, that is significant.
"There are lots of reasons why Indonesia would be a good partner for Australia," he said. "It's not a claimant to the disputes, but it is a big and capable regional player."
In the past Jakarta has been a relatively neutral player in what has been a highly contentious issue for the region. However, under Mr Widodo, Indonesia has taken a stronger stand against China's assertive claims in the South China Sea following a series of clashes between Indonesian warships and Chinese fishing boats in the waters surrounding the Natuna Islands.
While China recognises Indonesia's claim to the islands, its nine-dash line – the controversial territorial marker it uses to claim the bulk of the sea – encroaches on the waters around them.
"There are lots of reasons why Indonesia would be a good partner for Australia," he said. "It's not a claimant to the disputes, but it is a big and capable regional player."
In the past Jakarta has been a relatively neutral player in what has been a highly contentious issue for the region. However, under Mr Widodo, Indonesia has taken a stronger stand against China's assertive claims in the South China Sea following a series of clashes between Indonesian warships and Chinese fishing boats in the waters surrounding the Natuna Islands.
While China recognises Indonesia's claim to the islands, its nine-dash line – the controversial territorial marker it uses to claim the bulk of the sea – encroaches on the waters around them.
Indonesia held large-scale military exercises off the archipelago in early October, involving jets that carried out manoeuvres including dropping bombs on targets off the coast.
And after an Indonesian warship clashed with a fleet of Chinese fishing vessels off the coast of the Natuna Islands in June, Mr Widodo presided over a cabinet meeting on the exact same ship, the KRI Imam Bonjol, near where the clash took place.
Australia and Indonesia have repaired the relationship over the past year following Mr Turnbull's well-received visit to Jakarta last November. The relationship had been strained following the execution of Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan early last year and disagreements over Australia's policy on asylum-seekers.
Australia and Indonesia have repaired the relationship over the past year following Mr Turnbull's well-received visit to Jakarta last November. The relationship had been strained following the execution of Australians Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan early last year and disagreements over Australia's policy on asylum-seekers.
http://www.afr.com/news/policy/defence/australia-and-indonesia-closer-to-joint-patrols-in-south-china-sea-20161031-gsesdh
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.