Australia balks at non-aggression treaty

VIENTIANE, Laos, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Australia has refused to sign a non-aggression pact with southeast Asian nations, citing its right to launch pre-emptive strikes if threatened by terrorists.

Australian officials took the stance during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Laos, refusing to join New Zealand, Russia, China and others in signing the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation.

Earlier this year, Canberra announced it was buying extended-range, air-to-ground cruise missiles, The Telegraph said.

During his re-election campaign this year, Australian Prime Minister John Howard pledged to launch pre-emptive strikes if Australia faced a terrorist attack.

Islamist militants in southeast Asia targeted Australians even before the invasion of Iraq. Nearly half of the more than 200 victims of the Bali bombings in 2002 were Australian. Then, two months ago suicide bombers attacked the Australian embassy in Jakarta, killing 10 Indonesians.

Several ASEAN members expressed disappointment with Howard's stance.

"I don't ... view that as something that we would welcome," said Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi.

Sihasak Phunketkeow, the Thai foreign ministry spokesman, said: "We think it's high time that Australia gives (the treaty) serious consideration."