I wonder how the Indonesian government would view a growing Chinese naval presence in East Timor.

Woodside is wise in not wanting to spend money on facilities in East Timor given the unreliability of it's government.This is apart from the obvious saving in pipeline infrastructure.

Timor will still get substantial royalties from the production.How these would be spent is up to the government.My suspicion is that a lot of the money would either be wasted or get into the hands of a corrupt few.
I doubt if the Chinese will have any more luck in dealing with the Timorese than Australia has.Any military expansion by the Chinese into Timor has to be dealt with by the Australian and possibly the Indonesian military.There are plenty of other near failed states in the SW Pacific where the Chinese can easily get a foothold if they think that is in their interests.

Interesting times!

Too many assumptions in the article and not enough examination of facts. There is a proliferation of views about the politics of Fretilin which was never 'Maoist' and certainly not Communist.
A few leaders were influenced by revolutionary ideology but Fretilin's stated aims were explicitly democratically phrased.

In the light of evidence that has come to light during the trial of Angelita Pires, both Gusmao and Horta, who became the beneficaries of the 2006 destabilisation of the elected ALkatiri Government can hardly be described as 'recalcitrant heroes'

Reinado stated implicitly in recorded interviews that it was Gusmao who 'made' him and the evidence presented to Angelitas trial leaves no doubt that Reinado was visiting Horta's compound on invitation and was executed. The alleged attack on Gusmao has also raised questions as to whether or not it was staged to support the 'Coup' theory.

Angelita is understood to be preparing to sue Horta for his accusations without evidence that she was behind a 'coup' and his actions in having a private meeting with Salshina following his surrender give grounds to suspect a conspiracy.

Gusmao's acceptance by Indonesia as a moderate after the 6 months ceasefire where his visits to all regions to promote Autonomy was facilitated by the TNI puts his dedication to Independence into question.

The circumstances surrounding the execution of Nicolau Lobato and the more militant elements of Fretilin are also questions requiring investigation as the true history of the struggle is chronicled by the participants.

As for the sale of two Patrol Boats and training of crews by China; I wonder why Australia disposed of our older vessels as gifts to Indonesia instead of assessing East Timor's needs to patrol their waters to deter illegal fishing and illegal activities .

The whole East Timor saga has been shaded in confusion the whole time. It is always difficult to know who is write and wrong in these situations. Australia's diplomatic handling of East Timor after their independence was a bit patronising so we shouldn't be surprised that they are a bit sheepish with us.
As for china's regional military intentions, if someone has some credible links they can give me on this that would be great as i can only find paranoid banter with no substance that China wants to take over. History doesn't really support this idea and i don't feel any great threat from China. They have been slowly reforming their systems. It is our impatients with the pace of change that seems to be the complaint, but after what happened to the Soviet Union is it any wonder they wish to keep a tight hand on the wheel.

Nairbe.... right and wrong ? :) oh oh.... ur kidding right ?

At this level of "international interest" the only 'right' is that which brings the most benefit to national 'interest'....

In Australia's case, I think the 'liberation' was as much about our share of the Timor Shelf oil, and Indonesia's annexation was probably about that too.. along with a healthy dose of well justified anti Chinese/communist paranoia.

Now.. with these overtures from China..(with the Timorize share of oil in mind ..why else?)... history is confirming the Indonesian 'view' of things Timorize. (but not their methods)

OH won't it be FUN.... I mean..hilariously uproariously funny..when Australia finds itself caught between our very very strong trading relationship with China..(one on which our economy depends more than any other) and the need to 'nudge China' back a bit from Timor!

I can't wait for the political double talk to come out of THIS one :)

*wanders off to dig his spud patch*....

ALGOREisRICH,
Yes must agree with you there. The strange wedge positions we find ourselves in because our greed over rules our morales would be very funny if they were not so serious. I am sure that their will be much back flipping and postering to be done. Let's hope at that time the US isn't desperate to hold on to it's power and start something they can not stop.
What i meant with history is that beside border and close regional issues (such as Tibet), the Chinese don't have a history of conquest over the known world. Again i maybe corrected on this but one feels that if they had wanted, Korea could have continued until the allies lost interest and given in.
Certainly the oil and gas rights to the Timor sea are of central importance in any discussion to do with Timor, Indonesia and regional stability but we need to be careful about creating the enemy when we don't need to. OOW i sound like a diplomat sorry.