Australian govt briefs Indonesia over missile plan
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A day after the government expressed its concern over Australia's plan to boost its offensive capability, Canberra briefed Jakarta on Friday, regarding its plan to purchase long-range cruise missiles.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa welcomed Australia's initiative to directly explain the reasons behind the plan, saying the move would help avoid misunderstandings between the two countries.
"Thank God, from today (Friday), the two governments, through the foreign ministry, are discussing the nature of Australia's decision," Marty said on Friday.
He declined to go into detail about the talks with Australia.
"This, we think, is something positive. Transparency is vital as far as confidence-building measures (are concerned), because, in the absence of transparency, they (Australia) could give an unintentional response," he said.
"To build confidence and trust, that these kinds of things are communicated to the relevant parties is never a mistake," he said.
Asked whether Indonesia could get caught in an arms race due to the plan, Marty said: "Regional security, not security against (others in) the region. That's Indonesia's position."
"We are not, to be honest, paranoid over the recent announcement by the Australian government," he said.
Marty said Indonesia's response to Australia's announcement was deliberate, as it did not want to make any rash judgments.
"It is natural for us to ask ourselves against whom will these weapons be directed. They are able to destroy targets up to 400 kilometers away -- are they meant for firing at fish out at sea, or what?
"Problems arise when announcements are made without careful explanation, and misperceptions may result,
"We have said that we respect (Australia) and have no difficulties whatsoever in understanding the facts. This is a sovereign matter for Australia to decide in its defense policy, which has to be understood and appreciated," he said.
Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill announced on Thursday his country would spend up to A$450 million (US$319 million) to arm F/A-18 Hornet fighters and AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft with air-to-surface missiles capable of hitting targets up to 400 km away, which would be installed between 2007 and 2009.
News of the missiles came a day after a poll showed that the Australian public views Indonesia as the country's greatest external threat.
The Hornets, which have a combat flight radius of 740 km and can be fueled in flight, will also be equipped with advanced short-range air-to-air missiles.
Australia said it would choose from three new long-range cruise missiles produced by Lockheed Martin Corp., Taurus Systems GmbH -- partly owned by Saab -- and Boeing Co.
The three are: the Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM), which has the longest range; a variant of the cruise missile KEPD 350; and the Stand-off Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM-ER), based on the Harpoon antiship missile.