Indonesia remains very much aware that its relationship with PNG is important. Indonesia did not make any statement when the Solomon Islands made a security pact with China. Any statement might be seen as Indonesia meddling in PNG’s domestic issues. Indonesia understands it is PNG’s choice to make a defence arrangements with any country. Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is unlikely to make any formal statement on this issue. It is important that the United States ensures passage of warships and aircraft to and from PNG will not impinge on Indonesia’s territory and remain consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Indonesia must be aware of any possibility of spillover effects.Ĭertainly, as a result of the agreement there might be a significantly increased US military presence in PNG. Christina Aryani, a member of the committee that oversees foreign relations and defence, warned that the new agreement might increase tensions between the United States and China, and that. In response to the agreement, members of Indonesia’s parliament have voiced concern about the increasing extra-regional military presence in the region. This new agreement is expected to increase the US military presence in the Pacific region amid the intensifying US–China rivalry. The agreement will give the US military unimpeded access to many PNG key naval facilities. The United States and Papua New Guinea recently concluded a comprehensive Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Economics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asia and the Pacific
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