CAAB

Fri 5 Dec 2003
Australia's decision to join the United States in developing a defence system to shoot down long-range ballistic missiles received a cool reception in neighbouring Indonesia.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer announced earlier that federal cabinet had decided to accept a US invitation to help develop a defence system capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said nations in Asia had already been briefed on
Australia's planned involvement in the so-called "Son of Star Wars" program,
including China, to ensure regional hackles were not raised.

But Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said Jakarta had only been told in the broadest possible terms that Australia was thinking of joining the US.

"I would describe it as more of a brainstorming session, a what if session," he said.

He said Indonesia had many concerns about the decision.

"First of all, we would like some transparency, we would like to know exactly to what threat it is directed," he said.

"We also have concerns it could spark a regional arms race. No doubt there will be action and counter reaction." He also said Asian nations, including Indonesia, would want to know what Australian involvement meant and whether Canberra's future role would be research based, or actually involve weapons systems.

"Research done thousands of miles away is a different matter to having certain weapons hardware on Australian soil," Natalegawa said.

Political analyst and Indonesian parliament member Dewi Fortuna Anwar also said the decision could spark an arms race when South-East Asian nations were already committed to a nuclear-free region.

"It's quite strange considering that in future our spirit is denuclearisation and the US is very enthusiastic about this, and yet they run this program," she said.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the proliferation of long-range missiles could be a future threat to Australia's security and interests.

"I want to make this perfectly clear - missile defence systems are purely
defensive; this is not an offensive system," he said.

But Anwar said the system could be seen as a threat similar to a pre-emptive strike.

"If it's seen for pre-emptive strike, then it's dangerous," she said.

"Somehow this program is not supporting global peace." The deputy chairman of the Indonesian parliament's security, defence and foreign affairs department, former major-general RK Sembiring Meliala said Australia had become "a US representative in the Asia Pacific" and the latest plan only
confirmed it.

"As long as they don't use it in future to dominate other countries," he said.

Mr Downer will travel to Jakarta on Sunday to attend a conference on regional
security threats.

Natalegawa said he would also meet with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan
Wirayuda.