By AR Williams, Canberra correspondent
If Australians believe in coincidences, a massive 6.9-earthquake which so far has killed more than 30 Sumatrans, then they could be forgiven for not making a connection between Indonesia and China undertaking a military exercise near Taiwan and a large quake across Indonesian islands.
At least 47 people have died after a magnitude-7.7 quake struck off the island of Flores in eastern Indonesia, followed by several aftershocks.
A second, 6.4-magnitude earthquake later struck Indonesia’s North Sumatra region.
Indonesia’s Disaster Management Agency, BNPB, said that more people were injured in the powerful quake that shook the province of East Nusa Tenggara early Saturday morning.
Hours later, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, but there was no tsunami threat and no immediate reports of aftershocks or damage.
Which country is capable of generating and targeting earthquakes? Is it Russia? What about China? Or could India have this technology?
Many readers would be aware that the US allegedly has this technology named ‘Ice Cube’ located in Antarctica. A former navy officer made allegations to NZ News in 2023 about this sophisticated technology.
“Former US Navy serviceman and Raytheon contractor Eric Hecker has come forward with explosive claims about advanced technologies operated at the South Pole, alleging the use of directed energy weapons and atmospheric manipulation systems at a U.S.-run research station,” reported NZ News.
Cairns News reported last week that an Indonesian warship would soon take part in a naval exercise with China near the disputed territory of Taiwan.
Taiwan’s government has condemned as “dangerous” planned Chinese navy drills with an Indonesian warship off the island’s east coast, saying Beijing was trying to create a false impression to the international community that it controls those waters.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, and in June began coast guard patrols off the island’s east coast, causing anger in Taipei and concern in Washington and some other Western capitals.
China’s defence ministry said on Tuesday the drill, to take place in mid-August at a location east of Taiwan it did not detail, would be a “navigation exercise” with an Indonesian navy ship, a highly unusual move given China does not generally hold exercises with foreign militaries near Taiwan.
America has committed to assisting Taiwan in the event of an attack by China
Beijing has always regarded Taiwan as being a part of China and President Xi threatened recently China would take Taiwan by force if the Taiwanese government did not accede to its wishes.
With Indonesia taking part in a drill this week alongside the Chinese navy near Taiwan, the US could view the Indonesian activity as hostile. Would this participation in naval exercises trigger an earthquake as a warning?
The main question remains however; would Indonesia take part in China’s invasion of Taiwan?
This Act of Congress would allow the US military to come to Taiwan’s aid should China or any other country attack it:
January 1, 1979
TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
PUBLIC LAW 96-8 96TH CONGRESS
An Act
‘To help maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific and to promote the foreign policy of the United States by authorizing the continuation of commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.’
Earlier this year Russia proposed to station long range bombers on Indonesian soil however Jakarta claimed it had no formal agreement with Moscow to do so.
In any case the US opposed Russia moving into the Pacific region and strongly informed the Indonesian President at diplomatic levels of US dissatisfaction.
If US defended Taiwan in a stoush with China, Australian defence forces would almost certainly be called upon to assist America.