President of Timor-Leste says China didn't want to develop police, military infrastructure over worr
- 7 months ago
#timorleste #timor-leste #ramoshorta #ramos-horta
East Timor President José Ramos-Horta claimed that Chinese diplomats turned down requests to improve police and military infrastructure in his country, fearing an "overreaction" from Australia. Key points Mr. Ramos-Horta said East Timor wants China's help on key development priorities, not military cooperation Mr. Ramos-Horta said East Timor wanted China's help with its key development priorities, not military cooperation. China turned down chance to develop defense infrastructure out of "respect" for Canberra, he said He said China turned down the chance to develop defense infrastructure out of "respect" for Canberra Mr Ramos-Horta also said there would be further developments soon regarding stalled negotiations between Australia and Timor-Leste over the Greater Sunrise gas field Some Australian politicians were alarmed by China and Timor-Leste signing a new comprehensive strategic partnership during Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's visit to Hangzhou last month. The new partnership largely focuses building self-sufficient food and infrastructure in East Timor, well strengthening trade ties, but also includes a section on strengthening cooperation "joint exercises and training" well developing "high-level military exchanges". Mr Ramos-Horta told the ABC that Timor-Leste was focused only on securing more Chinese aid for key development priorities, not on military cooperation. He also said Beijing had deliberately turned down opportunities to help develop defense infrastructure because it feared Australia's "sensitivities" and "respected" Canberra's desire to maintain its primacy as a security partner in the Pacific. "To China's credit, we could have had more Chinese support, for example, in terms of infrastructure for our defense forces, our police force," he told RN Breakfast. “And sometimes when I talk to the Chinese about increasing their support for our police force, such as building out our entire campus, say they would be willing to do that, but worry about overreaction or possible overreaction in Australia and elsewhere. "So the Chinese are actually sensitive to the sensitivities of our neighbours. So they are more respectful of Australia's position than Australia is of China's position." Concerns about Beijing's strategic ambitions the Pacific have intensified in Canberra as Beijing seeks to strengthen security ties with the Solomon Islands, while Australian officials monitor China's moves East Timor. But Mr Ramos-Horta has repeatedly emphasized that Australian government officials and intelligence officials are not concerned about the new partnership because they "understand" East Timor has no desire to establish a security relationship with Beijing. "The Australian government, the people in government information day, who deal with us every day, and Australian intelligence, normally us day in their own work, they know Timor's position well, so they're not worried about it," he told RN
East Timor President José Ramos-Horta claimed that Chinese diplomats turned down requests to improve police and military infrastructure in his country, fearing an "overreaction" from Australia. Key points Mr. Ramos-Horta said East Timor wants China's help on key development priorities, not military cooperation Mr. Ramos-Horta said East Timor wanted China's help with its key development priorities, not military cooperation. China turned down chance to develop defense infrastructure out of "respect" for Canberra, he said He said China turned down the chance to develop defense infrastructure out of "respect" for Canberra Mr Ramos-Horta also said there would be further developments soon regarding stalled negotiations between Australia and Timor-Leste over the Greater Sunrise gas field Some Australian politicians were alarmed by China and Timor-Leste signing a new comprehensive strategic partnership during Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's visit to Hangzhou last month. The new partnership largely focuses building self-sufficient food and infrastructure in East Timor, well strengthening trade ties, but also includes a section on strengthening cooperation "joint exercises and training" well developing "high-level military exchanges". Mr Ramos-Horta told the ABC that Timor-Leste was focused only on securing more Chinese aid for key development priorities, not on military cooperation. He also said Beijing had deliberately turned down opportunities to help develop defense infrastructure because it feared Australia's "sensitivities" and "respected" Canberra's desire to maintain its primacy as a security partner in the Pacific. "To China's credit, we could have had more Chinese support, for example, in terms of infrastructure for our defense forces, our police force," he told RN Breakfast. “And sometimes when I talk to the Chinese about increasing their support for our police force, such as building out our entire campus, say they would be willing to do that, but worry about overreaction or possible overreaction in Australia and elsewhere. "So the Chinese are actually sensitive to the sensitivities of our neighbours. So they are more respectful of Australia's position than Australia is of China's position." Concerns about Beijing's strategic ambitions the Pacific have intensified in Canberra as Beijing seeks to strengthen security ties with the Solomon Islands, while Australian officials monitor China's moves East Timor. But Mr Ramos-Horta has repeatedly emphasized that Australian government officials and intelligence officials are not concerned about the new partnership because they "understand" East Timor has no desire to establish a security relationship with Beijing. "The Australian government, the people in government information day, who deal with us every day, and Australian intelligence, normally us day in their own work, they know Timor's position well, so they're not worried about it," he told RN