Senior U.S. commander worried by RI crisis

Senior U.S. commander worried by RI crisis

LONDON (Reuters): The U.S. military commander in the Asia- Pacific region on Monday expressed concern about the crisis in Indonesia and said his forces were doing all they could to help stabilize the country.

Admiral Joseph Prueher, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, also said it was uncertain whether Washington could build a successful stable long-term military relationship with China.

Indonesia, one of the hardest hit by Asia's financial crisis, is also suffering from droughts and food shortages and fears of social unrest are rising.

President Soeharto, who looks set to win another five-year term in March election, has not named a running mate.

"I worry about the stresses and strains on the government. We're trying to work with our contacts in the (military) and work in an economic, political and military way to be as supportive as we can try to bring this back in line," said Prueher.

"I think it's going to be a rough road for a while," he told reporters after giving a speech to the Royal United Services Institute think-tank.

Prueher -- in charge of a 160-ship fleet and 100,000 military personnel -- pulled no punches about Indonesia, the fourth most populous country in the world.

"It's a really tough situation. Even if all the good decisions are made, there is trouble ahead. There is no economic and political stability.

"The work 'amok' is a Malay word. Indonesians will riot at the drop of a hat so it is a very tough issue," he said.

Prueher went to China last month with Defense Secretary William Cohen to underscore a new openness and warmth after decades of mistrust.

"We're trying to build up a dialog to build some understanding to eventually build some trust. We want a structure to work out our differences as well as things we agree on," he said in his lecture.

"I am very optimistic it can happen. I am less optimistic it will happen because we and the Chinese can and will make mistakes."

Prueher said he had been to Beijing three times in the last two years and was making some progress, especially in light of a stand-off between U.S. and Chinese forces in the Taiwan Straits.

Prueher also said he did not think there would be a major conflict on the Korean peninsula despite the perpetually high state of tension.