AI
Saturday, November 06, 2004 1:42:10 AM
China looking to boost military ties with Indonesia.
Everywhere that poor moron in the White House turns he finds China. We are a broken country, exposed and battered left with only the threat of physical violence to pound the world into submission. Yet history tells us this cannot work it is instead the path to perdition.
Location is everything and Indonesia has it as both the United States and China vie for influence near the Strait of Malacca.
Background:
As part of its declared "war on terrorism", the Bush administration wants to get back into bed with the Indonesian military, known by its Indonesian abbreviation TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia).
Indonesia also lies along the strategically vital Strait of Malacca shipping lanes.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during a visit to Singapore that he hoped to have US troops fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia "pretty soon". His comments fuelled speculation that the United States wants to deploy US forces in the Strait of Malacca, the narrow and busy shipping lane straddled by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore that is seen as a likely terrorist target.
More than one million tonnes of oil a year -- well over 80 percent of China's imports -- are shipped through the narrow strait.
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-Am
China, Indonesia look for ways to boost military ties
Posted: 05 November 2004 1659 hrs
JAKARTA: Indonesia and China discussed defence cooperation, exploring ways for Jakarta to obtain new arms supplies as the Southeast Asian country struggles to rebuild military ties with Washington.
Visiting Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan said he had met with new Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, discussing broad bilateral issues including defence cooperation.
"We held talks on defence cooperation and we have agreed to increase cooperation and consultation on security," he told reporters.
The United States halted most military-to-military contacts with Indonesia after Jakarta's troops ran riot in East Timor during a 1999 independence vote. US legislators say abuses must be accounted for before ties can resume.
US officials have repeatedly expressed disappointment at the outcome of Indonesian tribunals to try military, police and civilian officials accused of atrocities linked to East Timor's violent separation from Indonesia.
Separately, Foreign Minister Wirayuda said Jakarta hoped from the talks China could "provide ways to help (us) rejuvenate our weaponry."
Tang, who is due to hold separate talks later with Vice President Yusuf Kalla, top security minister Widodo Adisucipto and foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda, said he was "satisfied" with his meeting with Yudhoyono.
President Hu Jintao's also extended an invitation for Yudhoyono to visit China, Tang said, adding that the two leaders could possibly hold separate bilateral talks at the November 22 to December 1 ASEAN summit in Laos.
Indonesia's relations with Beijing were put on ice after Jakarta accused the Chinese Communist Party of backing an abortive coup blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party in 1965.
In a sign of dramatically improved relations, former president Suharto, who rose to power after the coup attempt and outlawed communism in Indonesia, visited Beijing in 1991. Suharto stood down in 1998.
- AFP
AFP text, photos, graphics and logos shall not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP shall not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP content, or for any actions taken in consequence.
Copyright © 2004 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/115529/1/.html
Everywhere that poor moron in the White House turns he finds China. We are a broken country, exposed and battered left with only the threat of physical violence to pound the world into submission. Yet history tells us this cannot work it is instead the path to perdition.
Location is everything and Indonesia has it as both the United States and China vie for influence near the Strait of Malacca.
Background:
As part of its declared "war on terrorism", the Bush administration wants to get back into bed with the Indonesian military, known by its Indonesian abbreviation TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia).
Indonesia also lies along the strategically vital Strait of Malacca shipping lanes.
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during a visit to Singapore that he hoped to have US troops fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia "pretty soon". His comments fuelled speculation that the United States wants to deploy US forces in the Strait of Malacca, the narrow and busy shipping lane straddled by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore that is seen as a likely terrorist target.
More than one million tonnes of oil a year -- well over 80 percent of China's imports -- are shipped through the narrow strait.
#msg-3404130
#msg-4474975
-Am
China, Indonesia look for ways to boost military ties
Posted: 05 November 2004 1659 hrs
JAKARTA: Indonesia and China discussed defence cooperation, exploring ways for Jakarta to obtain new arms supplies as the Southeast Asian country struggles to rebuild military ties with Washington.
Visiting Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan said he had met with new Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, discussing broad bilateral issues including defence cooperation.
"We held talks on defence cooperation and we have agreed to increase cooperation and consultation on security," he told reporters.
The United States halted most military-to-military contacts with Indonesia after Jakarta's troops ran riot in East Timor during a 1999 independence vote. US legislators say abuses must be accounted for before ties can resume.
US officials have repeatedly expressed disappointment at the outcome of Indonesian tribunals to try military, police and civilian officials accused of atrocities linked to East Timor's violent separation from Indonesia.
Separately, Foreign Minister Wirayuda said Jakarta hoped from the talks China could "provide ways to help (us) rejuvenate our weaponry."
Tang, who is due to hold separate talks later with Vice President Yusuf Kalla, top security minister Widodo Adisucipto and foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda, said he was "satisfied" with his meeting with Yudhoyono.
President Hu Jintao's also extended an invitation for Yudhoyono to visit China, Tang said, adding that the two leaders could possibly hold separate bilateral talks at the November 22 to December 1 ASEAN summit in Laos.
Indonesia's relations with Beijing were put on ice after Jakarta accused the Chinese Communist Party of backing an abortive coup blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party in 1965.
In a sign of dramatically improved relations, former president Suharto, who rose to power after the coup attempt and outlawed communism in Indonesia, visited Beijing in 1991. Suharto stood down in 1998.
- AFP
AFP text, photos, graphics and logos shall not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP shall not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP content, or for any actions taken in consequence.
Copyright © 2004 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/115529/1/.html
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