Foreign states to help in Strait<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
The United States, China, Japan and other powers may soon be
\nasked to contribute equipment and expertise to help fight threats
\nsuch as piracy in the world's busiest shipping lane, officials
\nsaid on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Foreign assistance in the Malacca Strait will be sought to
\nstrengthen air patrols launched last September by Malaysia,
\nIndonesia and Singapore, the three countries that border the
\nroute, Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said.<\/p>\n
\"Other nations can be invited to help us in technical matters,
\nbut they will not be approached to send their maritime forces
\nhere,\" Juwono said after holding discussions on border security
\nwith his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak.<\/p>\n
Each year, about 50,000 ships, carrying half the world's oil
\nand a third of its commerce, use the Malacca Strait. Officials
\nreported 37 pirate attacks in the strait in 2004, and some
\nsecurity experts have voiced fears that terrorists might target
\nships passing through it.<\/p>\n
Najib said officials have not decided which foreign nations
\ncould offer aid, but Juwono listed the United States, China and
\nJapan as countries that have a stake in security because the
\nMalacca Strait is a key maritime trade route for them.<\/p>\n
\"Once the concept has been firmed up in its operational sense,
\nthen we can invite countries beyond the region to participate,\"
\nsaid Najib, who is also Malaysia's deputy prime minister.<\/p>\n
\"There is a possibility, not too long from now, for them
\ncontribute to the security of the Malacca Strait, because the
\nreality is that our countries lack the assets and technology to
\nensure tight surveillance,\" Najib added.<\/p>\n
Juwono added that Indonesia has not begun fully conducting air
\npatrols under the \"Eyes in the Sky\" project because its navy and
\nair force need more funds from the government.<\/p>\n
Neighboring Thailand will soon start taking part in the
\nproject, which complements coordinated boat patrols that the
\nother three governments launched last year, Najib said.<\/p>\n
Officials have previously said Malaysia, Indonesia and
\nSingapore need more patrol aircraft with radar to locate small
\nboats normally used by pirates. But any planes provided by others
\nwould be controlled and commanded by those three countries.<\/p>\n
Malaysia and Indonesia have long said they oppose any foreign
\noffer to intervene directly to boost security, stressing that
\nother countries must respect their territorial sovereignty.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/foreign-states-to-help-in-strait-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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