At the ASEAN-Australia Summit, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo criticized the formation of AUKUS, which he said could add to rivalries in the region. He asked Australia to be open to ASEAN.
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LUKI AULIA/NINA SUSILO
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LUKAS - BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo while attending the 22nd ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit virtually from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Tuesday, October 26, 2021
BOGOR, KOMPAS - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has asked Australia to be open to ASEAN countries in an effort to maintain regional stability and peace. The President has also criticized the formation of the trilateral military alliance of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, called AUKUS, saying it “could trigger increased rivalry in the region".
The President made the statement in the presence of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the ASEAN-Australia Summit, which took place virtually, on Wednesday (27/10/2021). AUKUS was announced by the leaders of the US, Australia and UK on 15 Sept.
One of the alliance's programs is to assist Australia in procuring up to eight nuclear-powered submarines.
AUKUS has drawn strong criticism from many parties, including US allies in Europe. France has called the alliance a "stab in the back". With the alliance, France's agreement to manufacture diesel-powered submarines for Australia was scrapped.
The alliance was formed furtively. Neither the ASEAN countries nor their partner countries were informed. Observers say AUKUS is meant to stem China's influence in the region. There are also concerns over the transfer of nuclear technology within the alliance.
AFP PHOTO / AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE/ ADAM TAYLOR
This handout photo taken and released by the Australian Prime Minister's Office on October 27, 2021 shows Prime Minister Scott Morrison attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Australian Leaders Summit at the Parliament House in Canberra.
Threats to stability
"Indonesia does not want this region to become a rivalry of arms displays and power projections that can threaten stability," said President Jokowi, who expressed Indonesia's concerns over the formation of AUKUS and the procurement of Australian nuclear-powered submarines.
"We must be able to turn a culture of conflict into a culture of peace and a trust deficit into a strategic trust," said the President. "Indonesia hopes that Australia can continue its openness to ASEAN and become one of ASEAN's partners in creating stability, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region"
The President's statement was conveyed by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and shared through a press release by the media and information bureau of the Presidential Secretariat.
In his statement, Australian PM Scott Morrison sought to convince ASEAN that the AUKUS alliance was not a threat to the region. Australia offered to donate some 10 million Covid-19 vaccines and US$ 92.6 million in financial assistance to ASEAN.
At the meeting, ASEAN and Australia agreed to build a comprehensive strategic partnership. "ASEAN is at the center of the Indo-Pacific region and we will continue to provide support," Morrison said.
In addition to the meeting with Australia, on the second day of the summit, the ASEAN leaders also held a dialog with Japan and South Korea.
During the dialog, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivered his objections to the disruption of a free and open maritime order. He expressed his concerns about the region, considering that China was increasingly aggressive in building up its military power.
