INDONESIA-MILITARY Asia needs new military balance, not led by one major power - Indonesia's top general

Record ID: 158958

  • Title: INDONESIA-MILITARY Asia needs new military balance, not led by one major power - Indonesia's top general
  • Date: 20th April 2015
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (APRIL 20, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR OF INDONESIA MILITARY HEADQUARTERS SIGN READING (Bahasa Indonesia): "INDONESIA NATIONAL MILITARY HEADQUARTERS" INDONESIA MILITARY CHIEF MOELDOKO SITTING DURING INTERVIEW NAME TAG READING (English): "MOELDOKO" (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) INDONESIA MILITARY CHIEF MOELDOKO SAYIN
  • Embargoed: 5th May 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAB2KE5ZMRQ3QDTG9KYAFRELVZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Asia needs a new military balance that is not led by one major power, Indonesia's top general said on Monday (April 20), as the region becomes increasingly concerned over China's rapid expansion in the South China Sea.
    "There have been significant changes in comparison to the stable and relatively calm conditions from a decade ago. However, not too long ago, there has been drastic change. To a point where it has been shocking, The shock was faced by many countries. Like, it is a surprise," said Moeldoko, Indonesia military chief, who goes by one name common in Indonesia.
    "Everyone has their own opinions on China, which appears to be a threat in this area. That's what is happening right now," he added.
    As a result of heightening tensions in the region, Indonesia plans to upgrade its military forces in Natuna and Tanjung Datu, areas of the South China Sea near China's claims.
    China claims most of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, disputed in parts with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, and denies accusations its actions in its own territory are provocative.
    Moeldoko, who retires as military commander in July, wants to bring together the United States, Japan, China and Southeast Asian nations at a regional defence summit next year in the hopes of easing tensions.
    In the exclusive interview with Reuters, Moeldoko also said the military has launched an anti-terrorism operation on the eastern island of Sulawesi to crack down on militants with suspected links to Islamic State.
    General Moeldoko said the military was helping police to track down radicals, highlighting government concern over Indonesians pledging loyalty to IS and returning to the world's most populous Muslim country after training alongside the group in Syria or Iraq.
    "We still have battalion troops. We have the intelligence operations, as well as another team in the territorial operations. Their tasks are to observe the environment and to have an understanding of the security measures. The motive is to, in case of Poso truly becoming an operations base for IS, we will be able to overcome them as we are already familiarized with the area," Moeldoko said at military headquarters on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta.
    The operation was launched on March 31 and has since finished. It was Indonesia's first major military counter-terrorism operation, which included special forces personnel and intelligence agents, since the aftermath of the 2009 Jakarta hotel bombings.
    Moeldoko did not say how many militants had been killed or captured.
    Indonesia has fought a small number of homegrown militant groups since the early 2000s and has arrested a few people suspected of receiving IS training in Syria.
    In the most deadly attack, Indonesian militants bombed a nightclub on the holiday island of Bali in 2002, killing 202 people, many of them Australians.
    Police have been largely successful in destroying domestic militant cells since then, but officials now worry about a resurgence.
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