REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING -- Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan has affirmed that Indonesia would not be dictated by other countries' interests, including in the matter of the disputed South China Sea or what kind of main weaponry system to purchase.
"Indonesia is a sovereign country, and does not want to be dictated by the interests of other countries in the disputed South China Sea, whether it is the United States, China or other countries such as the Philippines," he told Antara during his working visit to Beijing on Wednesday.
The minister affirmed that Indonesia has a clear position regarding the ongoing dispute over the South China Sea. It is not a claimant state and does not recognize the existence of "nine dash line."
"All countries who have an interest in the South China Sea must follow the international marine law (UNCLOS) of 1982, and the DoC that has been agreed upon," he remarked.
Indonesia stated that the issue of sovereignty is not negotiable. "We do not want to be stuck on the disputed South China Sea issue as it is part of the agenda or interests of other countries," the minister stressed.
The minister also made it clear that Indonesia has a similar stance regarding procurement of the main weapons system.
"Indonesia is a sovereign country and we can procure weaponry from any country, not necessarily from country A or country B. Such procurement has to be based on our own national interests, not those of any other country," he affirmed.
China has a more advanced defense industry than Indonesia, and Indonesia can learn from China.
"Our defense industry continues to improve, and China can help in that. For example, it can help in the matter of procurement of main weapons for armament systems, and technology transfer," he said.
During a working visit to Beijing, the minister led the Indonesian delegates to the fifth dialogue on political, legal and security issues between Indonesia and China.
The minister also held intensive meetings with China's minister of public security, a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and also visited one of the China's strategic industries, the Electronic Corporation.
Indonesia and China had signed a memorandum of understanding between the Defense Ministry of Indonesia and the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for the Defense of the People's Republic of China (SASTIND) on March 22, 2011.
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