Taiwan crisis monitored from ship in Jakarta

Taiwan crisis monitored from ship in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): The United States fleet currently deployed near
Taiwan to monitor the escalation in the Taiwan Strait has been
getting its orders from a ship stationed in Jakarta since Monday.

The orders are coming from Vice Admiral Archie R. Clemins, the
commander of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet from the flagship
USS Blue Ridge, which has been berthed in Tanjung Priok port
since Monday.

Although he is here on a goodwill visit, Clemins, who opened
up the ship and its sophisticated communications room to
journalists yesterday, said he was closely monitoring the
situation in the Taiwan straits.

From the Blue Ridge, Clemins has full authority over the
movements of the U.S. naval presence, including the two aircraft
carriers sent to monitor the Chinese military exercises in the
Taiwan Strait.

Clemins explained that while the ship is more than 20 years
old, it was refitted two years ago with the latest high-tech
facilities, allowing the commander to monitor developments and
have swift access to communications throughout the world.

At the heart of the ship is a command and control complex
where the complicated logistical tasks can be coordinated.

The 18,500 ton Blue Ridge which carries a crew of 750, is one
of the four flagships of the U.S. Navy.

As commander of the Seventh Fleet, Clemins is in charge of the
world's biggest naval fleet, some 50 ships including two aircraft
carriers. Its area of operations extend from the Western Pacific
to the Indian Ocean.

The Blue Ridge last visited Indonesia in October 1993.

Clemins described the presence of U.S. forces near Taiwan as a
"precautionary measure".

He reiterated his government's commitment to a "One-China"
policy and said that the U.S. supported the reunification of
China through peaceful means. He declined to speculate on the
U.S. response should force be used by China.

Beijing has warned Washington not to interfere in what it
considers a domestic matter.

Of his flagship's port call to Jakarta, Clemins said visits
like this help build confidence.

It is when ships do not make friendly port calls that
suspicion begins to creep in, he said. "Visits like this also
demonstrate our commitment to regional security and peace."

When asked about the potential for military confrontation
arising from overlapping territorial claims in the South China
Sea, Clemins said there was no flashpoint at present.

The likelihood of the claims evolving into a crisis would rise
if oil and gas were found in the area, he said.

Six countries -- Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Thailand and Vietnam -- have staked claim to part or all of the
Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The Spratlys are widely
believed to be rich in hydrocarbon deposits.

On the question of naval bases in the region, Clemins asserted
that the U.S. was not looking to secure any in Indonesia.

"We need places, not bases," he said, referring to the right
of passage for U.S. ships.

He said that it was important for U.S. ships to have access to
sea lanes and make port calls such as the one to Jakarta.

Clemins said the U.S. presence in region remained an important
means of providing security for regional development. "Our
presence in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean also helps to
ensure economic stability in the region," he added. (mds)