Date of publication: 22-03-2013
Marine drills can build mutual confidence and rein in tensions, says Indonesian Navy chief
Since territorial disputes continue to simmer in the region, Indonesia's Navy chief proposed joint naval exercises between Asean countries and China to build trust and tension.
"We are concerned about the spillover effect of the situation in the South China Sea," Admiral Marsetio told a regional security conference yesterday.
"So we want to invite China's Navy with a joint exercise with Asean," he added on a panel discussion at the Jakarta International defence dialogue.
Admiral Marsetio comments are in line with the attempts of Indonesia, as the largest nation in Southeast Asia, a greater role in resolving regional disputes in recent years.
The dialogue, organized by the Indonesian Defense University for the third consecutive, is such a platform. A key principle officials say, is the balance of Indonesia-and hopefully influencing the region-relationships with major powers, the United States and China, without taking sides.
Many Asean countries have already active military exchanges with the US, and US Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter participated in the first day of the two-day dialogue on Wednesday, as well as the Chinese military Deputy Chief of the General staff, Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo.
Admiral Marsetio recognized that each country has a different level of preparedness Navy, however such joint exercises can help bridge the discrepancy in the tactical skills.
ASEAN is currently trying to figure out a Code of Conduct to control tensions in the South China Sea, where the territorial claims of four Member States with that of China clash.
Professor Wu Xinbo, Director of the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University in China, said that the countries concerned must work together better, as will take conflicts to resolve.
"If we want a peaceful Pacific, we need to think less about the difference between our Marines and more information about how we can work together," he told more than 300 defense officials and observers from 38 countries.
Rear Admiral Anne Cullerre, Commander of French troops in the Pacific, said regional Navies need to communicate more countries more military spending.
"Regardless of the balance of power, which as far as we are concerned, most are freedom of navigation, security and stability," she said.
Admiral Marsetio noted that the maritime cooperation is not new.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have teamed up to patrol in the Straits of Malacca from piracy and other security threats since 2004, together with Thailand a few years later.
The European Union has also jointly deployed warships to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters.
Indonesia, he added, can play an important role given its strategic location between the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean.
Indonesia is a symposium of the international maritime security this December, Admiral Marsetio told reporters later organize.
A focus of these discussions and exercises will how Marines can better respond to natural disasters in the region.
Pio Lorenzo Batino, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and strategic concerns on the Philippine Department of Defense, said that the region continues to harbour extremist groups, that their demands by violent means.
"Defense diplomacy is now integral in building confidence and trust between Nations," he said.
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