RI, Australia bolster defense, economic ties<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, Canberra<\/p>\n
After six years of twists and turns in bilateral ties between
\nIndonesia and Australia, the two countries have embarked on a
\n"new era" of enhanced defense and economic cooperation.<\/p>\n
Led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia has
\nacknowledged the need to pay more attention to its southern
\nneighbors -- Australia and New Zealand -- while at the same time
\nmaintaining the strong ties it has with its peers in Southeast
\nAsia and East Asia.<\/p>\n
In the past, Indonesia's foreign policy for regional bilateral
\nrelations was focused on the importance of building union among
\nSoutheast Asian countries and non-allies of the United States.<\/p>\n
President Susilo's visit to Australia was seen as an important
\nstep in bolstering the new relationship, which was marked with
\nthe issuance of a joint declaration on a "comprehensive
\npartnership".<\/p>\n
The partnership will provide a broad legal framework for
\ndirecting the future relationship of Indonesia and Australia,
\ncovering arrangements in the field of defense and security,
\neconomics, as well as socio-cultural affairs.<\/p>\n
"The partnership is a legal umbrella to make the relations of
\nthe two countries closer. It also shows that both countries are
\nserious about mending their relationship -- with Indonesia now
\npaying more attention to Australia than ever," said analyst Dewi
\nFortuna Anwar of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).<\/p>\n
Dewi said although President Susilo had not been keen on a
\nformal security arrangement with Australia -- primarily due to
\nhis adoption of a "free and active" international relationship
\npolicy -- military and defense cooperation would be enhanced
\nthrough the partnership.<\/p>\n
The partnership would expand and formalize existing
\ncooperation between the two countries in the areas of military
\ntraining and study exchanges, as well as working to improve
\ncommunications with the aim of settling defense issues
\npeacefully.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said the focus of
\nthe defense cooperation would be more on preventing
\nmisunderstandings between the two countries over a number of
\ndefense issues -- such as on the installment of long-range
\nballistic missile facilities.<\/p>\n
"Basically, under the partnership, the two countries agreed to
\nsettle any defense problems peacefully and to avoid making any
\ndefense policy that would cause misunderstanding or provoke
\ntension," said Hassan.<\/p>\n
The military ties between Indonesia -- the world's most
\npopulous Muslim country -- and Australia have been characterized
\nfor the most part by ups and downs, rather than the stable,
\nfriendly, and cooperative long-term relationship ideally enjoyed
\nby close neighbors.<\/p>\n
Australia's role in the East Timorese independence movement
\npoisoned the two countries' friendship. And, in 1999, shortly
\nafter the majority of the East Timorese voted for independence,
\nIndonesia annulled a security pact signed by both parties in
\nDecember 1995.<\/p>\n
Terrorism became another major issue for the two countries,
\nmore so after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and the Bali
\nbombings the following year, in which 202 people were killed,
\nmany of whom were Australians. Last year a bomb attack was
\ncarried out on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
While both countries are committed to fighting terrorism, the
\nviews expressed by Australian leaders on terrorism in Indonesia
\nhave often been coolly received by Indonesians.<\/p>\n
However, a sense of kinship was felt when Australia played a
\nleading role in rushing aid to Indonesia following the Dec. 26
\nearthquake and tsunamis that claimed over 240,000 lives.
\nAustralia has pledged some A$1 billion in aid for reconstructing
\nthe devastated areas.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the economic sector, the partnership is expected
\nto initiate the arrangement of a free trade agreement (FTA) as
\nwell as easing the flow of people between the two countries for
\nbusiness, tourism and education activities.<\/p>\n
Although Indonesia is geographically close to Australia,
\neconomic activities between the two countries remain
\ninsignificant with Indonesia ranked as Australia's 16th largest
\ntrading partner with bilateral trade worth some A$8 billion
\n(US$6.5 billion) last year.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, has lagged behind
\nSingapore, Malaysia and Thailand in initiating FTA talks with
\nAustralia, as well as with New Zealand, due in part to the
\nunclear, uncoordinated trade and industry policies of previous
\ngovernments.<\/p>\n
The economic cooperation with Australia -- the sixth largest
\neconomy among the developed nations grouped in the Organization
\nfor Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) -- is also seen
\nas Indonesia's decision to divide its economic concentration from
\nJapan, South Korea, China and Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>\n
The writer is a journalist with The Jakarta Post.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-australia-bolster-defense-economic-ties-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }