Australia, Indonesia develop defense plan for gas fields

Australia, Indonesia develop defense plan for gas fields

SYDNEY (AFP): Australia is working with Indonesia to develop a
defense strategy for a rich natural gas field in the South China
Sea.

A report, in this week's edition of the Australian Defense
Magazine, said the two nations have developed a draft plan which
includes options for placing radars and surface-to-air missiles
aboard gas production platforms.

The magazine said other elements of the plan include the
possible use of aircraft, satellites or long-range radar for
strategic surveillance and early warning.

The Australian Defense Department was not available for
comment yesterday.

Last month, however, a defense official confirmed that both
countries were conducting a one-off surveillance project for the
Natuna Islands and associated offshore gas fields. This was part
of an ongoing defense cooperation program.

The Department of Defense's first assistant secretary for
international policy, Alan Dehm, told a Senate committee that
Indonesia had requested Australian assistance.

He said a small team of Australian defense officials and
specialists visited Indonesia in April to help develop a plan for
the defense of islands and gas field.

But he downplayed the potential for conflict with China or any
other country with territorial claims in the South China Sea.

"Neither this activity nor any other aspect of our cooperation
with Indonesia is directed at any third country," he said, adding
it did not affect any other country's claims in the South China
Sea.

Dehm said the Natuna Islands were an undisputed part of
Indonesian territory and Indonesia clearly had a legitimate right
to defend those islands.

"An important aspect of this collaboration is for us to share
with Indonesia the benefits of our own structured approach to
planning," he said.

The Natuna Islands, south west of the disputed Spratly
Islands, lie within Indonesian territory, east of Brunei.

The Natuna field reportedly contains vast quantities of
natural gas, with reserves estimated to be worth A$35 billion
(US$26 billion). It is expected to come on line in 2003.

The magazine said the Indonesian national oil company
Pertamina holds a 24 percent share of the field, with the
Indonesian armed forces prepared to expend considerable resources
to defend that interest.