Foreign states to help in Strait

Foreign states to help in Strait

Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur

The United States, China, Japan and other powers may soon be
asked to contribute equipment and expertise to help fight threats
such as piracy in the world's busiest shipping lane, officials
said on Thursday.

Foreign assistance in the Malacca Strait will be sought to
strengthen air patrols launched last September by Malaysia,
Indonesia and Singapore, the three countries that border the
route, Indonesian Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said.

"Other nations can be invited to help us in technical matters,
but they will not be approached to send their maritime forces
here," Juwono said after holding discussions on border security
with his Malaysian counterpart, Najib Razak.

Each year, about 50,000 ships, carrying half the world's oil
and a third of its commerce, use the Malacca Strait. Officials
reported 37 pirate attacks in the strait in 2004, and some
security experts have voiced fears that terrorists might target
ships passing through it.

Najib said officials have not decided which foreign nations
could offer aid, but Juwono listed the United States, China and
Japan as countries that have a stake in security because the
Malacca Strait is a key maritime trade route for them.

"Once the concept has been firmed up in its operational sense,
then we can invite countries beyond the region to participate,"
said Najib, who is also Malaysia's deputy prime minister.

"There is a possibility, not too long from now, for them
contribute to the security of the Malacca Strait, because the
reality is that our countries lack the assets and technology to
ensure tight surveillance," Najib added.

Juwono added that Indonesia has not begun fully conducting air
patrols under the "Eyes in the Sky" project because its navy and
air force need more funds from the government.

Neighboring Thailand will soon start taking part in the
project, which complements coordinated boat patrols that the
other three governments launched last year, Najib said.

Officials have previously said Malaysia, Indonesia and
Singapore need more patrol aircraft with radar to locate small
boats normally used by pirates. But any planes provided by others
would be controlled and commanded by those three countries.

Malaysia and Indonesia have long said they oppose any foreign
offer to intervene directly to boost security, stressing that
other countries must respect their territorial sovereignty.