RI-Australia relations ties solidifying

RI-Australia relations ties solidifying

Following is an excerpt from a paper presented by former
minister of defense and security Gen. (ret.) L.B. Moerdani
at a conference hosted by the Australian Defense Studies Center
last month in Canberra. This is the first of two installments.

CANBERRA: The broadening and deepening of the defense
relationship between Indonesia and Australia is perhaps a
foregone conclusion, certain to happen within the next fifteen
years. The speed and modality by which this will occur will be
affected by a number of factors and developments.

I will discuss some of these factors by specifically
addressing myself to the questions that have been given to me by
the Australian Defense Studies Center.

On the question of the appropriate speed for implementing
closer defense cooperation between Indonesia and Australia, I am
of the opinion that by necessity this will be gradual. There is
no need to hasten the process. It will involve both the
broadening and deepening of cooperation, with preference on the
Indonesian side to first focusing on the latter task.

As suggested above, the prospects for closer Indonesia-
Australia defense cooperation are good. As our strategic outlooks
converge we may soon realize that our capabilities also have
become more complementary. This enhances the scope for
cooperation. As suggested in the Defense White Paper, this
already has led to a more diversified relationship; one that goes
beyond the traditional defense cooperation programs to involve
strategic exchanges, combined exercises, logistics agreements,
science and industry cooperation, cooperative equipment
acquisition and training cooperation. Intelligence cooperation is
also an important aspect of our relationship.

Essentially, the bilateral defense relationship between
Indonesia and Australia should be seen as an integral part of the
overall, wider bilateral relationship between Australia and
Indonesia. Close defense cooperation will strengthen the
relationship, and a stronger overall bilateral relationship will
further promote defense links.

It has been said that Indonesia and Australia are "strange
neighbors". Their geographic proximity makes them very much
visible and actions taken by the one immediately affect the
other. Since each side knows relatively little about the other, a
great deal of irritations have burdened this relationship.

Some years ago there was a determination on both sides to
change this. We both agreed to do something to overcome those
problems and to strengthen our relations. Although Indonesia-
Australia relations cannot be taken for granted, I believe that
we have come a long way.

I would rather leave it to historians or other researchers to
identify the main factors that led our two governments to agree
to end that volatile relationship. As someone who was in the
Indonesian government at that time I have my own interpretation
of this episode. I believe that a number of factors were
important.

Back in the mid-1980s we did not know that the Cold War was
approaching its final days. However, there was a strong
recognition that Indonesia and other ASEAN countries needed to
seriously begin laying down the foundation for the establishment
of a regional order in Southeast Asia. There was the uncertainty
about future U.S. security commitments to the region and there
was also concern with the future roles of Japan and China in the
region.

The concept of a regional order in Southeast Asia is a very
simple, straightforward concept. Its objective is regional peace
and stability, whose maintenance is the responsibility of the
regional countries themselves. However, since outside powers have
a legitimate interest and role in the region, it is in the
interest of the regional countries to develop relations with them
that further strengthen the regional order.

It is definitely not an "inward-looking" concept. It is very
well recognized, however, that the main prerequisite to the
creation of this regional order is the ability of the regional
countries to keep their own houses in order.

ASEAN's active involvement in resolving the Cambodian conflict
through peaceful means is based on this determination. Its
efforts are "outward oriented" and it actively has sought the
participation of the international community. Australia was among
the few countries that showed a sustained interest in helping
resolve the conflict.

Regional order is also not a concept that ignores developments
outside its own region. In fact, it is interested in developing
healthy and strong relations also with countries in its immediate
neighborhood. This is dictated by the requirements to maintain
regional peace and stability. The wisdom is that your neighbors
are important. Australia is important to Indonesia because
Australia is Indonesia's immediate neighbor to the south.

It is interesting to note that with regard to many regional
economic, political and security issues and assessments, the
views from Jakarta and Canberra are often closer than between
Jakarta and Tokyo or between Canberra and Washington. It appears
to me that in our efforts to organize the Asia- Pacific region we
share a common philosophy or strategy. Indonesia and Australia
can further promote and strengthen their relations through the
various newly emerging regional forums. However, they are not a
substitute for a healthy and strong bilateral relationship,
including in the field of defense.

The question of whether Australia tends to be pushing too fast
in implementing closer defense cooperation does not appear to be
of relevance here as no timetable has been set. What is important
here is the development of a meaningful mechanism for regular
consultations through which various cooperation programs are
thoughtfully submitted, discussed and agreed upon. The annual
meetings of the respective Defense Ministers is one such
important mechanism.

As described above, Australia-Indonesia bilateral defense
cooperation should also be seen in the wider regional context as
it will be influenced by ASEAN's defense cooperation and
Australia's relations with ASEAN. On the question of how close
Australia can get to ASEAN, the answer is "quite close".

As an ASEAN dialog partner and a member of the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF), and because of its geographic location, Australia
can become a member of one of ASEAN's inner circle of cooperation
if it accepts ASEAN's Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC)
through a declaration or protocol, even without acceding to it.
However, as Australia is not a member of the Southeast Asian
community of nations it may not become a member of ASEAN's most
inner circle. It is also not obvious why this should be desirable
for Australia.

There are two aspects of the issue of perceived threats
between Australia and ASEAN. First, it is perhaps no longer
relevant to talk about threat and the need to have a common
perception of threat as a basis for defense cooperation.

The 1994 Defense White Paper also is not derived from a
defined threat -- "the potential enemy". Equally, ASEAN defense
cooperation is not based on a common perception of threat.

Second, the major aim of defense cooperation today, as
implicitly contained in the concepts of comprehensive security,
cooperative security and collective security, is confidence
building and developing a sense of community. The ASEAN strategy
of concentric circles proposes the need to include the very
sources of uncertainty to one's own security within the extended
circle of cooperation. This distinguishes defense cooperation
today from the formation of military pacts and alliances during
the Cold War.