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.