Chronologies
US - Southeast Asia
Chronology from Jan 2004 to Mar 2004
: Singapore formally joins the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter development program, making it the first Asian nation to contribute to the world’s most advanced combat jet.
: Singapore formally joins the U.S. Joint Strike Fighter development program, making it the first Asian nation to contribute to the world’s most advanced combat jet.
: U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher and visiting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge express “extreme disappointment” in the Indonesian Supreme Court’s decision to reduce convicted JI spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir’s three-year prison sentence to time-served.
: U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher and visiting U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge express “extreme disappointment” in the Indonesian Supreme Court’s decision to reduce convicted JI spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir’s three-year prison sentence to time-served.
: Sixteen prominent U.S. senators ask FBI director Robert Mueller to reopen an investigation of a 1997 grenade attack in Phnom Penh.
: Balikatan-04 ends. The focus of this year’s joint exercise was on Palawan island and included civic action, involving school construction, medial assistance, and road repairs by U.S. forces.
: Sixteen prominent U.S. senators ask FBI director Robert Mueller to reopen an investigation of a 1997 grenade attack in Phnom Penh.
: Balikatan-04 ends. The focus of this year’s joint exercise was on Palawan island and included civic action, involving school construction, medial assistance, and road repairs by U.S. forces.
: Thai House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs passes resolution urging Thailand to withdraw its contingent of 400 soldiers from Iraq to help quell violence in the Thai south where anti-U.S. Muslim sentiment is high.
: Thai House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs passes resolution urging Thailand to withdraw its contingent of 400 soldiers from Iraq to help quell violence in the Thai south where anti-U.S. Muslim sentiment is high.
: The Philippine Daily Inquirer recalls U.S. Democratic presidential aspirant John Kerry’s role as a 1986 election monitor in the Philippines which called for an invalidation of the election because of voting fraud committed by the late President Marcos.
: The Philippine Daily Inquirer recalls U.S. Democratic presidential aspirant John Kerry’s role as a 1986 election monitor in the Philippines which called for an invalidation of the election because of voting fraud committed by the late President Marcos.
: In a speech to the International Islamic Scholars Conference in Jakarta, President Megawati castigates the U.S. occupation of Iraq as unjust to Muslims.
: U.S. Navy Secretary Gordon England at the Singapore Asia-Pacific Security Conference says the U.S. will likely increase its Asian military presence after discussions with America’s partners.
: Thirty U.S. House of Representative lawmakers write a letter to Cambodian leader Hun Sen asking that he complete an investigation into the Jan. 22 murder of labor union leader Chea Vichea and to “insure the future safety of other political and labor leaders…”
: U.S. Navy Secretary Gordon England at the Singapore Asia-Pacific Security Conference says the U.S. will likely increase its Asian military presence after discussions with America’s partners.
: Thirty U.S. House of Representative lawmakers write a letter to Cambodian leader Hun Sen asking that he complete an investigation into the Jan. 22 murder of labor union leader Chea Vichea and to “insure the future safety of other political and labor leaders…”
: In a speech to the International Islamic Scholars Conference in Jakarta, President Megawati castigates the U.S. occupation of Iraq as unjust to Muslims.
: Indonesia and the U.S. sign an agreement on the peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy designed to protect Indonesian facilities from terrorist attacks.
: Indonesia and the U.S. sign an agreement on the peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy designed to protect Indonesian facilities from terrorist attacks.
: U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bolton in Beijing absolves Malaysia of any official involvement in the manufacture of nuclear centrifuge parts for export to Libya under a rogue Pakistani nuclear weapon proliferation program.
: U.S. Under Secretary of State John Bolton in Beijing absolves Malaysia of any official involvement in the manufacture of nuclear centrifuge parts for export to Libya under a rogue Pakistani nuclear weapon proliferation program.
: Flying phase of Exercise Cope Tiger among the U.S., Thai, and Singapore air forces and the U.S. Marine Corps takes place at Korat Air Force Base in Thailand.
: USTR Zoellick visits New Delhi for talks about increasing market access for goods, services, and agriculture.
: Flying phase of Exercise Cope Tiger among the U.S., Thai, and Singapore air forces and the U.S. Marine Corps takes place at Korat Air Force Base in Thailand.
: USTR Zoellick visits New Delhi for talks about increasing market access for goods, services, and agriculture.
: Malaysian FM Syed Hamid Albar protests President Bush’s allegation of Malaysian involvement in shipping centrifuges used for nuclear weapons to Libya. Albar said Malaysia was unfairly targeted because it was a Muslim country.
: Malaysian FM Syed Hamid Albar protests President Bush’s allegation of Malaysian involvement in shipping centrifuges used for nuclear weapons to Libya. Albar said Malaysia was unfairly targeted because it was a Muslim country.
: USTR Zoellick visit Singapore meets with Singapore’s Trade Minister George Yong-boon Yeo and meets ASEAN representatives.
: Burmese government web site denies a U.S. Senate aide’s claim that North Korea has provided nuclear technology to Rangoon.
: USTR Zoellick visit Singapore meets with Singapore’s Trade Minister George Yong-boon Yeo and meets ASEAN representatives.
: Burmese government web site denies a U.S. Senate aide’s claim that North Korea has provided nuclear technology to Rangoon.
: USTR Robert Zoellick submits to Congress a formal “Intent to Initiate Free Trade Agreement Negotiations with Thailand.”
: President Arroyo assures the country’s neighbors that the Philippine-U.S. joint exercises, Balikatan-04, are unrelated to Philippine sovereignty claims over the Spratly Islands.
: USTR Robert Zoellick submits to Congress a formal “Intent to Initiate Free Trade Agreement Negotiations with Thailand.”
: President Arroyo assures the country’s neighbors that the Philippine-U.S. joint exercises, Balikatan-04, are unrelated to Philippine sovereignty claims over the Spratly Islands.
: U.S. Pacific Commander Adm. Thomas Fargo visits Vietnamese naval base at Danang in central Vietnam. Analysts believe the visit is a sign that Hanoi is interested in improving military relations with the United States.
: U.S. Pacific Commander Adm. Thomas Fargo visits Vietnamese naval base at Danang in central Vietnam. Analysts believe the visit is a sign that Hanoi is interested in improving military relations with the United States.
: Cofer Black, U.S. ambassador at large for counter-terrorism, talks with Indonesian officials in Jakarta about prospects for interviewing Hambali.
: Cofer Black, U.S. ambassador at large for counter-terrorism, talks with Indonesian officials in Jakarta about prospects for interviewing Hambali.
: Attorney General Ashcroft attends Asia-Pacific Counter-Terrorism conference in Bali, co-hosted by Indonesia and Australia. He is pressed by Indonesian officials for access to Hambali, currently held by the Americans at an undisclosed location.
: Attorney General Ashcroft attends Asia-Pacific Counter-Terrorism conference in Bali, co-hosted by Indonesia and Australia. He is pressed by Indonesian officials for access to Hambali, currently held by the Americans at an undisclosed location.
: U.S. intelligence contributes to the arrest of a Filipino in Northern Ireland who allegedly provided financial aid to JI organizations in Southeast Asia.
: U.S. intelligence contributes to the arrest of a Filipino in Northern Ireland who allegedly provided financial aid to JI organizations in Southeast Asia.
: Indonesian government hires former Republican senator and U.S. presidential candidate Robert Dole as its lobbyist in Washington, the first time Jakarta has retained a prominent U.S. politician to promote its interests.
: U.S. State Department condemns assassination of Cambodian trade union leader Chea Vichea on Jan. 22 and calls upon the Cambodian government to solve the crime.
: President Bush, in his State of the Union Address, commends the Philippines and Thailand for committing troops for Iraqi reconstruction.
: U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce says that Washington is considering giving Indonesian investigators direct access to captured Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist leader Hambali.
: President Bush, in his State of the Union Address, commends the Philippines and Thailand for committing troops for Iraqi reconstruction.
: U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce says that Washington is considering giving Indonesian investigators direct access to captured Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist leader Hambali.
: U.S. police officers attend a 22 nation Asia-Pacific conference in Bali on the global campaign against terror.
: Philippine President’s Office takes issue with a U.S. travel advisory to the Philippines by claiming that local terrorist groups had been “neutralized.”
: Philippine President Arroyo says its 96 soldiers on humanitarian missions will remain in Iraq despite insecurity in the country.
: Philippine President’s Office takes issue with a U.S. travel advisory to the Philippines by claiming that local terrorist groups had been “neutralized.”
: Philippine President Arroyo says its 96 soldiers on humanitarian missions will remain in Iraq despite insecurity in the country.
: Indonesian VP Hamzah Haz complains that the U.S. is requiring Indonesian banks to repay loans when the banks had not yet recovered from the 1997-98 financial crisis.
: U.S. puts a half dozen leading current and former Indonesian military officers on a watch list of indicted war criminals, including a leading presidential candidate, Gen. Wiranto, effectively barring them from entering the U.S. This comes as the Bush administration increases its antiterrorism ties to Indonesia’s military.
: Indonesia criticizes Australian decision to join the U.S. plan to build a regional missile defense, calling it “offensive” and fearing it may push China into a harsh response.
: U.S. puts a half dozen leading current and former Indonesian military officers on a watch list of indicted war criminals, including a leading presidential candidate, Gen. Wiranto, effectively barring them from entering the U.S. This comes as the Bush administration increases its antiterrorism ties to Indonesia’s military.
: Indonesia criticizes Australian decision to join the U.S. plan to build a regional missile defense, calling it “offensive” and fearing it may push China into a harsh response.
: U.S. Congressman Gelbans in talks with Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid agree that Malaysia and the U.S. must work together closely to combat terrorism.
: U.S. Congressman Gelbans in talks with Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid agree that Malaysia and the U.S. must work together closely to combat terrorism.
: Manila announces it’s ready to deploy air marshals on Philippine Airline flights to the U.S. if the U.S. reciprocates on U.S. flights to the Philippines.