CANBERRA, July 3 (Reuters) – Indonesian President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday proposed joint military disaster
exercises with Australia and the United States in a sign of
easing concerns in Jakarta over American troop deployments to
northern Australia.
Under U.S. President Barack Obama’s “pivot” to the
Asia-Pacific, the U.S. will rotate 2,500 Marines through a base
near the northern Australian city of Darwin in a decision which
Indonesia initially said created tension and mistrust.
During a two-day visit to Darwin, Yudhoyono made no mention
of the U.S. deployment, but suggested countries in the region,
including China, could join the United States in planning for
disaster relief operations.
“We hope that the United States, China, and also other
countries will also join us in facing possible natural
disasters,” Yudhoyono said through a translator after bilateral
talks with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
“It can engage the militaries of each of the countries in
our region,” he added.
Australia has promoted the U.S. Marines’ presence and
Darwin’s proximity to Indonesia, as being useful for emergency
relief for future disasters or emergencies, such as the 2002
Bali bombings or the deadly 2004 tsunami.
Beijing, however, is wary of Washington’s intentions in the
Asia-Pacific, with more hawkish voices in the PLA saying that
the United States is bent on encircling China and frustrating
its rise.
(Reporting by James Grubel; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)
