Indonesian Minister of Defense, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, met with Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia, Wang Lutong, at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense in Jakarta, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, discussing concerted measures to strengthen bilateral relations and defense cooperation.
In the meeting, Ambassador Wang Lutong congratulated Sjafrie on his appointment as Minister of Defense, while the Indonesian minister expressed his commitment to enhancing cooperation between the two countries.
“We are committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of defense. Strong cooperation will contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region,” Sjafrie said.
On that occasion, both parties agreed to explore new opportunities to strengthen defense relations, including joint military exercises and exchanges of defense technology. Those programs are expected to not only strengthen military relations, but also create broader security stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ambassador Wang Lutong emphasized that the good bilateral relations between Indonesia and China must continue to be developed for the sake of mutual interests in various sectors. “We hope that this cooperation can contribute to stability and prosperity in the region,” he said.
This meeting reflects the commitment of both countries to strengthen relations in the defense sector, in line with efforts to create peace and stability in the region. Joint military exercises and exchanges of information and technology will be strategic steps that strengthen the defense capacity of both countries.
The meeting came at the heels of a repeated incident of a Chinese Coast Guard vessel entering the Indonesian water jurisdiction off the North Natuna Sea twice earlier this week. The incident did not escalate further as the Chinese vessel left after being driven away by the joint patrol ships of the Indonesian Coast Guard (Bakamla) and the Indonesian Navy.
With increasingly strong diplomatic relations, defense cooperation between Indonesia and China is expected to help overcome potential conflicts and security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.
