Indonesia reaffirms criticism on Australia's missile program

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, January 24, 2004

Indonesia reaffirms criticism on Australia's missile program

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Indonesian government on Friday reaffirmed its criticism on Australia's participation in the US missile defense program, saying that it would badly affect on the regional security and fuel arms race.

The participation would result in more negative impact rather than others, said spokesman of the Indonesian foreign ministry Marty Natalegawa, referring to the statement of the Indonesian military (TNI) that the participation would benefit for the regional security.

"From our foreign policy perspective, it was about the war strategy.... So it stressed more on the political pressure within the region, the security within the region, regarding to this problem," said Natalegawa.

"Other countries would make an effort to innovate their weapon system to subdue the new weapon system introduced by Australia," he said.

According to the spokesman, the Australia's participation in the US missile defense program could unilaterally provide security for one nation, but not the others.

"The Australia's participation in this program would result in more negative impact rather than the positives," Natalegawa said.

The TNI commander Sutarto controversially said on Wednesday that the Australia's participation in the US missile defense program could benefit for the regional security on condition that the region maintaining relationships.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said that Australia was supposed to discuss the program to neighboring member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) first.

"I always see in the context of the joint security in the regional, it is necessary to have a dialogue," he said.

"There is a forum for that, the ASEAN Regional Forum, to build the mutual trust and preventive diplomacy," he said.

According to the minister, Australia has a sovereignty to make a decision, but he was worried that the participation could negatively give impact on its neighboring countries.

Australia has declared to joint the missile defense program led by the United States.

Australia plans to buy US missiles, including some shooting down hostile missiles in space, as part of its high-tech defense shield. As part of its 15.8 billion Australian dollars budget, the country would also purchase three air warfare destroyers for the navy, which might be armed with the missiles.

Source: Xinhua

Questions?Comments? Click here

Australia to join US missile defense program

Exploration rover "Spirit" lands safely on Mars ( 9 Messages)

Two major state banks to pilot joint-stock system ( 3 Messages)

China pondering its own "green card" system ( 16 Messages)

Roaring BMW: Was it "road rage" or an accident? ( 2 Messages)

Beijing's traffic no longer a headache by year 2008 ( 5 Messages)