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TNI commander in the dark over Australian navy's Brisbane plan
Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm
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ndonesian Military (TNI)Commander Adm. Agus Suhartono said onThursday he was in the dark regarding Australia's reported planto shift its navy base from Sydney to Brisbane, a move that might affectstability in the region given the ongoing territorial tension in the SouthChina Sea.
'Australia indeed has a military base in Cairns in northern territory, which has been there for a long time. But I have no idea about the Brisbane plan,' Agus said at the State Palace, refusing to comment on the plan's possible impact on the region's security and stability.
'Usually, the Australian military commander makes a phone call to me if they are making a military move of that kind. I have never been told by my Australian counterparts about the so-called Brisbane plan,' he added.
'As far as I know, there is a military base in Brisbane but only to dock some patrol boats,' Agus added.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said that he was studying the possibility of moving some Royal Australian Navy forces from their existing base at Sydney Harbour's Garden Island to Brisbane, according to Australian media.
