Indonesian President Joko Widodo will discuss the prospect of joint patrols with Australia within the South China Sea when he meets his counterpart Malcolm Turnbull on the weekend.
Widodo told an Australian newspaper he wanted joint patrols with Australia, but provided that it didn’t further inflame tensions with China.
“If there is no such thing as a tension, I feel it is extremely vital that the patrols stay together. We will discuss this with Prime Minister Turnbull,” Widodo said.
Indonesia has traditionally taken a neutral position within the South China Sea, acting as a buffer between China and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which have probably the most to lose, the Philippines and Vietnam.
But after China angered Indonesia by saying the 2 countries had “overlapping claims” to waters near Indonesia’s Natuna Islands, Jakarta staged large-scale exercises on the shores of the South China Sea in October.
China claims almost your entire South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam even have claims to parts of the ocean.
Australia, which says it takes no side within the South China Sea disputes but supports U.S.-led freedom of navigation efforts within the region, is looking for to fix ties with Indonesia after the newest spat.
Indonesia suspended military cooperation with Australia in January after “offensive” teaching materials were found at an Australian base.
Although Australia’s military chief apologized to Indonesia in February, military cooperation stays suspended.
Reporting by Colin Packham; Edited by Lincoln Feast
Source: Reuters
