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Purnomo leaves for Hanoi to attend defense talks
Hoping to assume a mediating role in security talks at this week’s ASEAN defense gathering, Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro left for Hanoi on Sunday with two senior diplomats and a number of defense experts in tow
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H
oping to assume a mediating role in security talks at this week’s ASEAN defense gathering, Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro left for Hanoi on Sunday with two senior diplomats and a number of defense experts in tow.
On Tuesday, defense chiefs from the 10-member ASEAN will come to the table for the first time with eight partners — the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Some experts are convinced the defense minister will not bring up China’s recent controversial claims over disputed areas in the South China Sea. Others believe the meeting will explode into a war of words.
The US has raised concerns about China’s assertiveness in the region and particularly its recent claims over disputed areas in the South China Sea, which have sparked diplomatic tensions with Vietnam and Japan.
Vietnam this week asked for the unconditional release of nine Vietnamese sailors who were arrested by China while fishing near the disputed Paracel Islands.
“Indonesia can play a mediating role. It can cool down the air for a peaceful solution. In this, Indonesia can show its leadership,” international relations expert Bara Hasibuan said.
To do just that, Purnomo brings with him experienced diplomats Sabam Siagian, a former Indonesian Ambassador to Australia, and senior diplomat Sumadi Brotodiningrat.
Bara agreed that Sabam, who is also coordinator of international security studies at the Ambassador Forum, and Sumadi, an expert on East Asia studies, could assist Purnomo in enhancing Indonesia’s diplomatic clout in the region.
The South China Sea issue leapt to the forefront when foreign ministers from six ASEAN members, as well as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, voiced their concern that China was overstepping its boundaries. The protests prompted a tirade from China.
China’s territorial ambitions again made headlines when Beijing issued a threat and suspended the supply of rare-earth metals to Japan after Japan detained the captain of a Chinese fishing boat that collided with a Japanese vessel near the disputed Senkaku Islands.
China’s Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa are expected to meet on the sidelines of next week’s meeting to try to repair their countries’ bilateral relations, which were brought to a recent low by the fishing boat incident.
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is also likely to meet with Liang for their first talks since China froze military ties with the US in protest against planned US arms sales to Taiwan.
