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Indonesia Refuses Landing of US Military Aircrafts for Refuels, Vows to “Remain Neutral” amid Growing Sino-American Tensions
Reuters quoted four high-ranking Indonesian officials on 20 October as saying that Indonesia had refused earlier this year to let America’s P-8 patrol aircrafts land and refuel. It was claimed that Indonesia wished to “remain neutral” diplomatically as it had always been amid the increasingly fierce competition between the US and China.
The report quoted the sources as saying that US officials had repeatedly contacted Indonesia’s defence and foreign ministers at a “high level” in July and August. According to the sources, the US was seeking permission to land and refuel its P-8 maritime patrol aircrafts, responsible for monitoring China’s actions in the South China Sea. The request was denied by Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
The report said the request surprised Indonesia, which had remained neutral diplomatically and had never allowed foreign military activities in its territory as the sources noted. As US-China tensions mount in Southeast Asia, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said in September that Indonesia did not wish to be involved in their competition.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct20
#Indonesia #US #China #SoutheastAsia #SouthChinaSea #JokoWidodo #RetnoMarsudi #Military #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/31McdyX
Reuters quoted four high-ranking Indonesian officials on 20 October as saying that Indonesia had refused earlier this year to let America’s P-8 patrol aircrafts land and refuel. It was claimed that Indonesia wished to “remain neutral” diplomatically as it had always been amid the increasingly fierce competition between the US and China.
The report quoted the sources as saying that US officials had repeatedly contacted Indonesia’s defence and foreign ministers at a “high level” in July and August. According to the sources, the US was seeking permission to land and refuel its P-8 maritime patrol aircrafts, responsible for monitoring China’s actions in the South China Sea. The request was denied by Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
The report said the request surprised Indonesia, which had remained neutral diplomatically and had never allowed foreign military activities in its territory as the sources noted. As US-China tensions mount in Southeast Asia, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said in September that Indonesia did not wish to be involved in their competition.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct20
#Indonesia #US #China #SoutheastAsia #SouthChinaSea #JokoWidodo #RetnoMarsudi #Military #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/31McdyX