Indonesia warns of 'mistrust' over US base in Australia, Supports China

[Lankan Ranger]

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Indonesia warns of 'mistrust' over US base in Australia, Supports China

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on Friday said the stationing of US Marines in Australia needed to be better explained to all countries in Asia to avoid "mistrust".

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Natalegawa also called on Australia to "wage aggressive peace" in the region and accept that the rise of China was natural and not threatening.

The United States announced in November a plan to station some 2,500 Marines in remote Darwin by 2016-17, which was seen by some as an acknowledgement of Washington's concern about China's growing assertiveness.

Natalegawa said he understood the deployment of Marines was not directed at Indonesia "but unless (understanding) is properly disseminated, it could create mistrust among others".

"There are so many potential triggers" for conflict, he added, after talks with his Australian counterpart Bob Carr.

"If we make the anarchical assumption, everyone will behave according to the worst-case scenario."

Natalegawa argued for policies to accommodate a rising China, saying a consequence of the rising prosperity of Asia was military Modernization.

"That's fine and normal as long as we do not attach unnecessary aggressive intent to it," he said.

"Countries rising is natural. Once you accept that, it will not be seen as threatening."

The US currently has only a limited deployment in longstanding ally Australia, including the Pine Gap Joint Defence Facility spy station near Alice Springs.

AFP: Indonesia warns of 'mistrust' over US Marine plan

[Lankan Ranger]

Mistrust increasing...........

[Lankan Ranger]

Indonesian president to visit China

At the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will pay a state visit to China from March 22 to 24, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin made the remark on Monday at a daily press briefing, adding that China-Indonesia relations have been witnessing sound development.

Since establishing strategic partnerships in 2005, the two sides have seen close bilateral high-level contact, strengthened political mutual trust and made remarkable progress in exchange and cooperation in fields such as the economy, trade, defense, security and the humanities, Liu said.

The spokesman said Chinese leaders will broadly and deeply exchange views with Susilo on bilateral relations and other global and regional issues of common concern for the sake of positively promoting the two countries' pragmatic cooperation in all fields and further deepening their strategic partnership.

Indonesian president to visit China - Xinhua | English.news.cn

[xdrive]

Indonesian Ministers then meet australian ministers and all fears are allayed.

Indonesian fears allayed over Marines in Top End

Indonesia's foreign minister Marty Natalegawa says while the defence relationship is strong, there is also room for improvement.

Mr Natalegawa played down his concerns about the US military presence planned for the Northern Territory, saying it will be welcome if it focuses on humanitarian relief in the region.

Mr Natalegawa had initially raised concerns about the plan to have up to 2,500 US Marines training in the Top End, but he says Australia has answered his country's questions about the move.

"If there were some questions initially, those questions have been provided answers with," he said.

"Our interest from the outset is to make sure such developments, as anywhere else, is actually contributing to the peace and stability of our region."

Mr Smith says he hopes Indonesia will eventually be able to take part in joint training exercises with Australian and US forces.

"We don't discount in the longer terms as a result of the presence of US Marine taskforce group in the Northern Territory, that in due course we couldn't see not just exercises with Australian forces, but also exercises with other countries in our region, particularly in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief area," he said.

The leaders also discussed concerns about how best to deal with asylum seekers.

Mr Natalegawa says the Federal Opposition's policy to turn back asylum seeker boats is not achievable.

The Opposition has said it would dissuade people smugglers by turning back boats when it was safe to do so.

But Mr Natalegawa says Australia and Indonesia should instead discourage people smugglers by striking regional agreements with other countries through the Bali Process.

"Naturally it would be impossible, not advisable even, to simply shift the nature of the challenge from one end of the continuum to the other. So that's where we're coming from."

Indonesian fears allayed over Marines in Top End - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[Capt.Popeye]

Indonesian Ministers then meet australian ministers and all fears are allayed.

Indonesian fears allayed over Marines in Top End

Indonesia's foreign minister Marty Natalegawa says while the defence relationship is strong, there is also room for improvement.

Mr Natalegawa played down his concerns about the US military presence planned for the Northern Territory, saying it will be welcome if it focuses on humanitarian relief in the region.

Mr Natalegawa had initially raised concerns about the plan to have up to 2,500 US Marines training in the Top End, but he says Australia has answered his country's questions about the move.

"If there were some questions initially, those questions have been provided answers with," he said.

"Our interest from the outset is to make sure such developments, as anywhere else, is actually contributing to the peace and stability of our region."

Mr Smith says he hopes Indonesia will eventually be able to take part in joint training exercises with Australian and US forces.

"We don't discount in the longer terms as a result of the presence of US Marine taskforce group in the Northern Territory, that in due course we couldn't see not just exercises with Australian forces, but also exercises with other countries in our region, particularly in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief area," he said.

The leaders also discussed concerns about how best to deal with asylum seekers.

Mr Natalegawa says the Federal Opposition's policy to turn back asylum seeker boats is not achievable.

The Opposition has said it would dissuade people smugglers by turning back boats when it was safe to do so.

But Mr Natalegawa says Australia and Indonesia should instead discourage people smugglers by striking regional agreements with other countries through the Bali Process.

"Naturally it would be impossible, not advisable even, to simply shift the nature of the challenge from one end of the continuum to the other. So that's where we're coming from."

Indonesian fears allayed over Marines in Top End - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Now mistrust decreasing...........

[Bhairava]

Now mistrust decreasing...........

hahahahaha.

[Lankan Ranger]

Now mistrust decreasing...........

Several defence deals expected to be signed next week between Indonesia & China,
When Indonesian president visits China.

Mainly Chinese HQ-9 Air Defence System….

In the future we can see how mistrust increasing or decreasing…

[Lankan Ranger]

China express interest in Indonesian port development

Chinese firms express interest in Indonesian infrastructure development

$3 billion upgrade includes the construction of two new ports

According to reports three separate Chinese firms are expressing a keen interest in investing US$3 billion to upgrade transport infrastructure on Indonesia's main island of Java - including the build of two new ports.

China Building Civil Constructions Co Ltd, Changjiang Waterway Engineering Bureau and China Foundation for Desertification Control (CDFC) are all said to be interested, a government official told Bisnis Indonesia.

Warno Harisasono, head of East Java province's investment coordinating board, told Bisnis Indonesia that the investment would be for the build and upgrade of ports, toll roads and railway tracks, according to Bloomberg.

Mr Harisasono also said that there were preliminary discussions over the possible construction of a port on Madura Island and a oil and gas port in Turban.

Indonesia, located in Southeast Asia and Oceania, has stated that it is looking for $100 billion of private investment to redevelop its outdated and worn transport network.

Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy, which has resulted in the interest of many Chinese firms this year due to the country boasting a rich supply of coal and other resources.

In a visit to Jakarta earlier this year, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pledged $19 billion of investment credit to the country towards infrastructure development.

Chinese firms express interest in Indonesian port development

[WS-10 Engine]

absolutely great news to hear that china-indonesia relations always going from strength to strength.

butt hurt indians can keep crying

china is getting stronger and stronger and gainining global influence by the day.

[xdrive]

Indonesia is so desperate to be see in the same light as China. Indonesia wants to be seen as a powerful superpower like China so Indonesia had a whinge about the marines being stationed in the Northern Territory even though it doesn't affect them in any way in the hope that it will make them look like a world player.

The U.S couldn't give a crap what Indonesia, they aren't even on Americas radar.

[Aeronaut]

US naval base in exmouth Australia or Marines bases in NT wont make Australia any safe , it would rather be considered by countries in Asia as a hostile act. Countries with which Australia should have friendly relations.

[Developereo]

Indonesia's concerns are valid.

Every time an Australian drug smuggler gets caught red-handed in Indonesia, the bigot-infested Australian media drums up raw racial hatred against Indonesia.

[amidamaru]

its not american troops here that is to worry about... its bob carr as he is the biggest idiot and has already offended PNG in the first 3 days of him being appointed foreign minister by giving them a ultimatum of sanctions ....

2000 us troops is nothing... i would preffer 20000

Indonesia's concerns are valid.

Every time an Australian drug smuggler gets caught red-handed in Indonesia, the bigot-infested Australian media drums up raw racial hatred against Indonesia.

thats biggest load of crap i heard.. there is never any racist attitudes towards indonesia... and majority of australia thinks the drug mules and smugglers are idiots and should not even get financial help in regards to lawyers

[xdrive]

Indonesia's concerns are valid.

Every time an Australian drug smuggler gets caught red-handed in Indonesia, the bigot-infested Australian media drums up raw racial hatred against Indonesia.

The nonsense you wrote in your post has nothing to do with the topic. Stay on topic or don't respond.

thats biggest load of crap i heard.. there is never any racist attitudes towards indonesia... and majority of australia thinks the drug mules and smugglers are idiots and should not even get financial help in regards to lawyers

Dont get drawn into his off topicness. Everyone already knows that the biggest drug dealing group in Indonesia is the Indonesian police.

US naval base in exmouth Australia or Marines bases in NT wont make Australia any safe , it would rather be considered by countries in Asia as a hostile act. Countries with which Australia should have friendly relations.

The rotation of 2,500 marines being sent to Darwin isn't to make Australia "safe" 2,500 troops is nothing. They are going to be sent here for training purposes.

The majority of our neighbors aren't morons and can clearly see that a small rotation of marines are no threat to them. Australia is good friends with most of its neighbours.

[Kevrai]

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Indonesia's concerns are valid.

Every time an Australian drug smuggler gets caught red-handed in Indonesia, the bigot-infested Australian media drums up raw racial hatred against Indonesia.

thats a stupid comment to make mate, you have no clue!!!