Expert Mission on HCoC to Indonesia
17 July 2019
On 17 July 2019, the FRS, in cooperation with the Habibie Center conducted an expert mission in Indonesia to discuss and debate the HCoC.
AGENDA
WELCOMING REMARKS
- Dr. Dewi Fortuna ANWAR, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, The Habibie Center
- Benjamin HAUTECOUVERTURE, Senior Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research
- Charles-Michel GEURTS, Deputy Head of Delegation, European Union Delegation to Indonesia
I/ THE HCoC, WHAT RELEVANCE FOR INDONESIA?
SPEAKERS:
- Benjamin HAUTECOUVERTURE, Senior Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research
- Vegard KAALE, Ambassador of Norway to Indonesia, HCoC Chair
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
- Presentation of the Code
- The concrete meaning of implementing the HCoC
- The HCoC in Asia: positions and evolution
- The relevance of joining the HCoC in relation to Indonesia non-proliferation policies
- Successes and challenges of the HCoC in the current environment
II/ INDONESIA’S STANCE ON NON-PROLIFERATION: PRIORITIES & PERSPECTIVES
MODERATOR:
-
Benjamin HAUTECOUVERTURE, Senior Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research
SPEAKERS:
- Ricky Eka Virgana ICHSAN, Deputy Director for International Security and Disarmament Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia
- Kusnanto ANGGORO, Universitas Indonesia
- Muhamad ARIF, Researcher, The Habibie Center
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
- The Indonesian view on non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament
- Participation of Indonesia in key non-proliferation instruments
- Perspectives on current dynamics of the non-proliferation order
III/ BALLISTIC PROLIFERATION & SPACE DEVELOPMENT: WHAT CHALLENGE FOR ASEAN COUNTRIES?
MODERATOR:
-
A Ibrahim ALMUTTAQI, Head, ASEAN Studies Program, The Habibie Center
SPEAKERS:
- Paul WOHRER, Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research
- Dr. Romie Oktovianus BURA, Dean of the Faculty of Defense Technology, Universitas Pertahanan
- Dr. Yayat RUYAT, M.Eng, General Manager of Weapons, PT. Pindad (Persero)
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
- The current regional state of play in the ballistic-missile field
- The role of CBMs in addressing ballistic proliferation
- Issues arising from dual-use technologies and related strategies
- The development of space launch technologies
- The importance of confidence in a new era of space development
IV/ STRATEGIC TRADE CONTROL & NON-PROLIFERATION: PERSPECTIVES FOR ASEAN
MODERATOR:
-
Wirya ADIWENA, Special Assistant to the Director for Program and Research, The Habibie Center
SPEAKERS:
- Benjamin HAUTECOUVERTURE, Senior Research Fellow, Foundation for Strategic Research
- Iis GINDARSAH, Researcher, CSIS, Indonesia
- Curie Maharani SAVITRI, Lecturer, BINUS University
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION:
- Opportunities and challenges for ASEAN in strengthening and implementing strategic trade initiatives
- Controlling dual-use exports in the time of 3-D printing: the case of missiles
Summary of the debates
This workshop, held as part of a number of outreach events organised under the EU-funded project implemented by FRS, aimed to introduce the objectives and structure of the Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation (HCoC), and to hold a dialogue with Indonesian officials and experts on this multilateral instrument.
The Indonesian position on the HCoC was recalled, with Indonesia having abstained during all the votes of the UN resolutions in support of the Code. In 2019, 140 states had subscribed to the Code so far, amongst which 3 ASEAN countries (Singapore, the Philippines and Cambodia).
Moreover, the EU representative stated that while trade, investment, human rights, and climate change were the main areas of exchange between the EU and Indonesia, security was a new and growing area of cooperation.
The first panel stressed the relevance of the HCoC in the current international context. The speakers explained the HCoC’s objectives and structure, detailing the pre-launch notification mechanism and annual declaration process while presenting the non-legally binding nature of the Code. With a focus on transparency and confidence building, the HCoC is designed to prevent misunderstanding between states in the event of a space launch or ballistic missile test. The Code appears highly relevant today as ballistic missiles remain a vehicle of choice for the delivery of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The significant support enjoyed by the HCoC was recalled, as well as the right to use space for peaceful purposes and to develop a ballistic missile programme, neither of which are hampered by the Code.
The second panel introduced the Indonesian perspective on the non-proliferation regime, the priorities of the government on that matter, and perspectives characterised by an historic evaluation of the strategic environment. The third panel presented the challenges of ballistic proliferation and space development for ASEAN countries. The speakers focused on the role of the Code in the peaceful uses of space through transparency and recalled the challenges facing ASEAN arising from the development of dual-use technologies. The fourth and final panel offered thoughts on the links between strategic trade control and non-proliferation, and opportunities for the region. Panellists emphasized the subscription by Indonesia to a range of non-proliferation instruments and noted that ASEAN members have been historic proponents of the multilateral non-proliferation regime.
