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Indonesia concerned over Australia's participation in US missile defense program

PLA Daily 2004-01-17

JAKARTA, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indonesian government is concerned over Australia's participation in the US missile defenseprogram, saying that it will not contribute to the regional security and could fuel the regional arms race, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

"We are concerned on the decision of Australia," the spokesman of the foreign ministry Marty Natalegawa said.

"We are apprehensive that this will not assist on the peace of the region."

Indonesia and Australia are to host the regional ministerial meeting on counter-terrorism in Bali island on Feb. 4-5.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said that Australiawas supposed to discuss the program to neighboring ASEAN member countries 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 mutualtrust, and the preventive diplomacy," he noted.

The minister said he was worried that Australia's participationcould negatively give impact on its neighboring countries.

Australia today declares to join the missile defense program led by the United States.

Australia plans to buy US missiles, including some capable of shooting down hostile missiles in space, as part of 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.