Unique functions of defense institutes<\/p>\n
By Juwono Sudarsono<\/p>\n
A unique workshop on the role of national defense institutes
\nwas held at the National Resilience Institute on June 20 to June
\n21. Jointly sponsored by the institute and The Asia Foundation,
\nthe workshop explored in general terms many issues pertaining to
\nsecurity -- broadly defined -- in the Asia-Pacific region.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In his keynote address, Indonesia's Minister of
\nDefense and Security Edi Sudrajat outlined Indonesia's defense
\nposture which in essence rested on the twin doctrines of the
\narchipelagic outlook and national resilience. He emphasized that
\nboth doctrines complemented the current vogue for \"cooperative
\nengagement\", one of the current buzzwords in the security studies
\ncommunity throughout the region.<\/p>\n
The June 20 to June 21 workshop at the institute broke no new
\nground in terms of concepts. Nevertheless, since the participants
\nconstituted civilian officials as well as uniformed active
\nofficers, there were new perspectives gained. One of these was
\nthe need for a more active participation of business and military
\ncircles to be engaged in dialog with one another.<\/p>\n
In their enthusiasm for enhancing economic and business
\ninteraction within the Asia Pacific Economic Council and the
\nPacific Economic Cooperation Council, for example, public and
\nprivate officials often take for granted the political and
\nsecurity environment. Projections and projects were instituted
\nwith scant regard for the medium and long-term prospects of the
\nchanged security environment. Oil companies staking their claim
\nin disputed areas, for example, very seldom bother to consult
\npolitical or military leaders.<\/p>\n
To a lesser extent, military officers in turn tend to discount
\nthe changing economic and business environment. Their focus on
\ndeployment, logistics, inter-operational ability and overall
\nforce structure needs to be complemented with considerations of
\nthe economic and political dimensions.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN Regional Forum, launched in Bangkok last year, is
\nregarded as useful in providing the beginnings of region-wide
\ndialog. But only provided that it operates in ambiguity, waiting
\nfor, rather than initiating, developments to unfold.<\/p>\n
National defense institutes have distinct advantages in tying
\nin the three strands of Asia-Pacific-wide cooperation: political,
\neconomic and security. In the post Cold War era, new concepts
\nincorporating these three strands must become important aspects
\nof security planning broadly defined.<\/p>\n
A strong focus on the links between levels of economic
\ndevelopment with sensitive security issues would be a good start
\nfor curriculum building at these institutes.<\/p>\n
The case of China's future energy needs, for example, would
\nhave to consider the fact that while it has 24 percent of the
\nworld's population, China has access to only two percent of the
\nworld's proven oil and gas reserves; those statistics only
\nexplain Beijing's studied refusal in respect to involvement in
\nmultilateral dialog over the Spratlys.<\/p>\n
Understanding China's dilemmas is as important as being firm
\nto leaders in Beijing (given the recent spat with the United
\nStates over the visit of the president of Chinese Taiwan to the
\nUnited States, China did not send its national defense university
\nrepresentatives to the Jakarta meeting).<\/p>\n
National defense institutes have an important function in
\nadvocating the concept of defense and security in the wider
\nsense; territorial as well as functional. In Asia and the
\nPacific, where interdependence is intense, the institutes would
\ndo well to pioneer meetings involving businessmen, academics as
\nwell as active military officers. War, it has been said, is too
\nimportant a matter to be left to the generals. Equally important,
\npeace and development are too important to be left to the
\npoliticians and businessmen.<\/p>\n
A follow up workshop, with a more specific agenda and ideally
\nco-sponsored by the business communities of the region, would be
\nan ideal way to work on the pioneering workshop recently held in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Juwono Sudarsono is vice governor of the National Resilience
\nInstitute, Jakarta.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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