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By APD writer Maverick
JAKARTA, Jan. 24 (APD) – The United States conveyed its great interest to take part in the existing joint sea patrol in South China Sea carried out by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to tackle the rampant sea hijacking events in the waters.
The interest was conveyed by the visiting United States Defense Secretary James Mattis during his meeting with Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu in the latter’s office here on Tuesday.
“We want to help the sea patrol jointly carried out by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. We learned that it is the right thing to do to address the crime,” Mattis said on the sidelines of his meeting with Ryamizard.
Mattis said that the United States in the position to wait for invitations of the three ASEAN nations conducting the patrol in South China Sea waters, which he said of possessing huge economy potentialities that sometimes prompted conflicts between countries around the sea.
During the meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Mattis also offered the United States’ assistance to Indonesia, aimed at helping the country with pivotal role in Southeast Asia to enhance its efforts in preserving the security in the region.
Mattis pointed out that the United States is fully committed to further improve its cooperation with countries in Indo-Pacific region by expanding cooperation in diplomatic, economy and security sectors.
The trilateral sea joint patrol in the waters has been carried out by Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines since May 2016 to address the escalating sea hijacking conducted by terrorist groups based in Southern Philippines region.
They kidnapped crews of vessels from several nationalities that passed through the waters, demanding ransoms for their releases.
The joint patrol agreement was expanded into joint air patrol between those countries to intercept terrorist groups’ efforts to expand their operation from southern Philippines region.
Responding to the United States’ bid to join the patrol, Ryamizard welcomed it, saying that it would greatly help the efforts to secure Southeast Asian region from activities of terrorists which mostly linked to Islamic State (IS).
Presence of the United States military would greatly help Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to clamp down IS terrorist group in the region.
“I am very glad to hear Mattis’ offer to help as the United States has more sophisticated military equipment and instruments than all of us in the region,” Ryamizard said.
During his current visit to Indonesia that would last on Wednesday, Mattis was also scheduled to visit President Joko Widodo and Chief Security Minister Wiranto.
Before his meeting with Ryamizard, Mattis conducted a meeting with Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in the latter’s office on Monday night.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
