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Jakarta, August 24: Joint combat exercises between Indonesia and the United States this month reminded China that it cannot ignore Jakarta, which is strategically important to the Indo-Pacific region.
The 16th annual Garuda Shield exercise, a cornerstone of the U.S.-Indonesia military partnership, was held this month under the flags of 14 countries. This year’s Super Eagle Shield is an expansion of a bilateral training exercise between the Indonesian Army and the U.S. Army, which is now one of the largest multinational joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific region. China-Taiwan tensions: Surveys show that 78% of Taiwanese are not afraid of Chinese military exercises.
The mighty and varied Super Garuda Shield 2022 boasts several “firsts”, including the first three-sided aerial jump between the United States, Indonesia and Japan that concluded earlier today. The planning, operation, communication, and activities of the multinational exercise enhance the military defense capabilities of all participating nations and work to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.
More than 4,000 joint force personnel, including first-time participants from Australia, Singapore and Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Forces, are participating in support of the exercise. Other participating countries include Canada, France, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the United Kingdom.
“We’re stronger when we’re together like this,” said General Charles Flynn, commander of the U.S. Army in the Pacific. “As a multinational force, the Garuda Shield is an important expression of our teamwork, interoperability and unity as a group of nations seeking a free and open Indo-Pacific and maintaining a rules-based order.”
According to an analysis by Global Strat View, Indonesia appears to be taking the lead in preventing an “unstoppable” advance by an arrogant China that is destroying small and medium-sized nations in and around the Indo-Pacific.
While Indonesia-China relations are generally positive, Jakarta has raised concerns about China’s involvement in its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, which China claims almost exclusively.
Regional experts say Indonesia’s relations with China appear to have declined due to the Natuna issue. The situation has been exacerbated by reports that Jakarta plans to convert Natuna Regency into a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The prospect is not going well for China, but for Indonesia, the designation will introduce a range of incentives to support the region’s tourism, fishing, energy and security sectors.
At the request of the Natuna Regency office, a government task force has carried out a study to convert the island group into a special economic zone. Indonesian President Joko Widodo even signed an order to divide the Natuna waters into a control zone. Declaring Natuna Island as a special economic zone could lead to tensions between China and Indonesia.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from the Syndicated News feed, the body of the content may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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