China has no qualms about RI war games<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): China is not upset with the big military
\nexercise currently being conducted by Indonesia in the Natuna
\nIslands, Indonesia's Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Feisal said Beijing's position was stated by Gen. Fu Quangyou,
\nthe People's Liberation Army chief of general affairs currently
\nvisiting Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"There is no problem,\" he told reporters when asked about
\nChina's reaction to the on-going war games in the South China
\nSea.<\/p>\n
Speaking after escorting his guest to Bina Graha, where he
\npaid a courtesy call on President Soeharto, Feisal said that
\nIndonesia had explained the military drill to China.<\/p>\n
\"Did they accept the explanation?\" journalists asked.<\/p>\n
\"Of course,\" Feisal replied.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the visit has no connection whatsoever to the
\nNatuna war games, and that it is intended to forge closer
\nrelations between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Gen. Fu also explained Beijing's position regarding Hong Kong
\nand Taiwan, and promised that the two territories would be left
\nas they are now if and when they are reunited, Feisal said.<\/p>\n
China earlier said that it was closely watching the exercises
\naround the Natunas, to which it has made veiled claims.<\/p>\n
The exercise came in the wake of a Chinese protest of the
\ntalks held between Taiwanese foreign minister John Chang and
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas in Jakarta last week.<\/p>\n
China said that it has made a \"serious representation\" to the
\nIndonesian embassy in Beijing over the meeting.<\/p>\n
Alatas has stated that Chang was in Indonesia in a private
\ncapacity and reiterated Indonesia's \"One-China\" policy of
\nrecognizing only Beijing as the representative of China.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Maj. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, the commandant-general
\nof the Army's special force, Kopassus, was in Beijing on a
\ngoodwill visit.<\/p>\n
In the joint exercise, which began on Sept. 4 and will wind up
\non Sept. 19, more than 195,000 troops, 40 fighter jets and 50
\nwarships are taking part in a mock-operation to recapture the
\nNatunas, an area which is not only strategically situated in the
\nSouth China Sea but also rich in oil and gas.<\/p>\n
The Armed Forces has denied that the drill is intended as a
\nshow of force, adding that the choice of location on the northern
\nfrontier of the islands was not aimed at provoking its neighbors.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported from the Natunas that a large-scale
\namphibious operation got underway yesterday as part of the
\nexercises in the run up to D-Day on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Some 1,000 marines will be part of the massive landing in
\nSangiap Bay.<\/p>\n
Three companies from the Marines arrived yesterday on
\nneighboring Subi, Matak and Serasan islands, while a fleet of 40
\nwarships left Tanjung Priok port for Natuna on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Armed clashes began in the inner part of the islands with
\nIndonesian fighters jets pounding the Ranai air base, which is
\nunder \"enemy control\", the news agency reported. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-has-no-qualms-about-ri-war-games-1447893297",
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