Australian Maritime Issues 2007 - Royal Australian Navy

New Threats, New Approaches: Australia’s Maritime Security Cooperation in South East Asia
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as maritime security and to the involvement of non-military agencies. 15 Australia’s
then Defence Minister, Robert Hill, noted in 2005: ‘the capacity to respond to nonconventional
threats will make the FPDA more relevant to a security environment
where threats include terrorism, breaches of exclusive economic zones, smuggling,
piracy and illegal fishing’. 16
The first FPDA exercise focusing on maritime security took place in the South China Sea
in October 2004, with a second in September 2005. Leading on from this, in September
2006 Singapore hosted Exercise BERSAMA PADU (meaning ‘together united’ in
Malay) involving military personnel, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority, Police,
Coast Guard, immigration authority and customs service. 17 Venturing further into the
non-traditional security realm, the 2006 meeting of FPDA defence ministers agreed
to explore cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. 18
Beyond the FPDA, Australia has longstanding bilateral security relationships with
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. It is also building defence ties with
Cambodia, Brunei, Laos and Vietnam. 19
Defence cooperation with Manila has recently been reinforced through a Status of
Forces Agreement signed in May 2007. This allows for joint military exercises and
sea patrols and the transfer of surveillance technology. Australia and Indonesia have
also intensified their security cooperation after a period of estrangement. In November
2006, both countries signed the Agreement on the Framework for Security cooperation,
the so-called Lombok Treaty. Australia ratified it in June 2007. Two aspects of this
instrument stand out. First, its emphasis on non-traditional security issues. Of the
nine areas of cooperation identified in the document, only one focuses on traditional
defence cooperation. Second, its framework structure. This provides flexibility to
accommodate a diverse range of activities, such as counter-terrorism capacity building,
combating transnational crime and strengthened defence and police cooperation, within
an overarching arrangement.
Terrorism in South East Asia sits high on the Australian government’s security
concerns. The 2003 Foreign Affairs and Trade Policy White Paper notes that ‘South-
East Asia is our front line in the war against terrorism’. 20 It further states that ‘our
proximity to South-East Asia gives us a strong stake in this region’s stability. The
region encompasses important communication links and sea lanes vital to our trade
interests.’ 21 Terrorism remains a major threat in South East Asia according to the 2007
Defence Update, underlying closer cooperation with Indonesia and the Philippines to
build stronger networks and counter-terrorism capabilities. 22
A maritime terrorist attack in the region is no longer hypothetical. The February 2004
attack by Abu Sayyaf on Superferry 14 in Manila Bay that left 63 dead and a further
53 unaccounted for demonstrated that the threat is real and deadly. Concern about
a terrorist attack on a major regional port such as Singapore or Port Klang or in the