Admittedly, it’s not as sexy as the Schapelle Corby story, but we
thought you might like to know that Indonesia is seeking China’s help
in reviving a 41-year-old program
to build short- and medium-range missiles that could be used to replace
US fighter jets grounded by a long-running arms embargo.

The Financial Times has reported that Chinese President Hu Jintao and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a
series of agreements in Beijing last week that flesh out an April
declaration that the two had formed a “strategic partnership.”

“According to a statement issued afterwards,” the paper says, “one
agreement called for the two countries to ‘intensify bilateral
cooperation’ in defence, ‘work together in developing each other’s
defence industries,’ and for ‘cooperation in defence technology’.”

The agreement is “meant to help Jakarta develop propulsion and guidance
systems for land- and ship-based missiles with a range of up to 150km.”