Top Chinese Indonesian officials forge closer security links

BEIJING – China and Indonesia held their first meeting of senior ministers under a format agreed to in 2024, a sit-down that coincides with Beijing’s push to woo Asian nations and offset trade tensions with the US.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a briefing in Beijing after the talks on April 21 that the international landscape faced the “severe impact of unilateralism and hegemonism”, adding that “the more complex and volatile the external environment is, the more significant for China and Indonesia to pursue solidarity and cooperation”.

Mr Wang was joined by Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun, and Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

Mr Sjafrie said the meeting showed “the value of deepening Indonesia-China cooperation in the defence sectors”, pointing to “regular, high-level military exchange, joint training”, and collaboration between the nations’ militaries and defence industries.

The two sides also announced plans to hold joint military exercises in 2025 in a sign of growing security ties between countries that have longstanding differences in the disputed South China Sea.

While Jakarta is not a formal claimant in the sea dispute, Indonesia has typically refrained from recognising China’s vast claims.

The upcoming drills’ focus on counter-terrorism echo strategies long employed by the US to deepen military ties in South-east Asia, particularly in the Philippines.

They come as Beijing steps up its military diplomacy in the region, vying with Washington for strategic influence as tensions mount in the Indo-Pacific.

China and Indonesia want the new “2+2” mechanism, a reference to the number of top officials joining from each side, to act as a platform for political, defence and security matters.

The talks come as Beijing tries to win over nations, especially in South-east Asia and Europe, as US President Donald Trump levies tariffs on friend and foe