REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The United States (US) Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel said US government wanted to rebalance the US power in Asia Pasific region. He visited Indonesia on Augsut 26-27 and met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Minister of Defense Purnomo Yusgiantoro at Presidential Office on Monday.

"Asia Pasific region is vital to US in future. We both discuss issues of Asia Pasific. We agree that impact of issues for both countries, regionally and globally," Hagel said on Tuesday.

Hagel said that Indonesia was an important country and had demonstrated its contributions in Asia Pasific region. Hagel also visited Malaysia, Philippines and would visit Brunei Darussalam. 

The US rebalance is not only related to security and military, but also focus on diplomatic relations, economy, trade, culture and education. Hagel expects that meeting of Counter Terrorism Exercise (CTX) involving defense ministers in Brunei Darussalam will give contributions and new outlooks.Yusgiantoro said President also expressed his wish that in upcoming G-20 meeting he could meet with US President, Barack Obama, to discuss some global issues. 

Eight Apaches

Hagel said the Pentagon would sell eight Apache attack helicopters to Indonesia for 500 million USD. The deal includes high-tech Longbow radars.

At a news conference Monday in Jakarta, Hagel also said Indonesia has agreed to discuss allowing US recovery teams to search for the remains of U.S. troops lost on Indonesian soil or in its territorial waters during World War II. The work will be done by the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command.

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