China has spoken out regarding the defence cooperation agreement\nbetween Indonesia and the United States (US). China referenced the ASEAN\nCharter when discussing the agreement.<\/p>\n
According to detikNews on Thursday (23\/4\/2026), Indonesia and the US\nhave signed the Major Defence Cooperation Partnership (MDCP). The MDCP\nwas signed by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin during a meeting with\nUS Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on 13 March 2026.<\/p>\n
The issue that has arisen concerns overflight clearance, which would\nallow US aircraft to use Indonesian airspace. The Indonesian side has\nstated that this is not included in the signed cooperation.<\/p>\n
Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Guo Jiakun,\nwho was asked about this during a press conference in Beijing on 17\nApril, spoke up. He reminded of the ASEAN Charter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in\nSoutheast Asia clearly stipulate that ASEAN countries must act in\naccordance with the principles of collective responsibility in enhancing\nregional peace, security, and prosperity, and must refrain from\nparticipating in any policies or activities, including the use of their\nterritory, that threaten the sovereignty or territorial integrity of\nASEAN Member States,\u201d said Guo Jiakun, as quoted from the Chinese\nMinistry of Foreign Affairs website.<\/p>\n
Guo Jiakun quoted Indonesia\u2019s statement that it will engage in\ndefence cooperation with other countries on the basis of mutual respect,\nsovereignty, mutual trust, and mutual benefit.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina has always believed that defence and security cooperation\nbetween countries must not target third parties or harm the interests of\nthird parties, nor harm regional peace and stability,\u201d stated Guo\nJiakun.<\/p>\n
Statements from the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and Ministry of\nForeign Affairs<\/p>\n
Previously, the Ministry of Defence dismissed the issue of overflight\nclearance being part of the MDCP. It emphasised that this is not in the\nagreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat (the agreement on US aircraft flight permissions) is not in the\nMDCP,\u201d said the Head of the Defence Information Bureau (Karo Infohan) of\nthe Ministry of Defence Secretariat General, Brigadier General TNI Rico\nRicardo Sirait, quoted from Antara on Tuesday (14\/4).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign\nAffairs Yvonne Mewengkang on Thursday (16\/8\/2026) also emphasised that\nIndonesia does not have a policy to grant its airspace to foreign\nparties. She said that cooperation with other countries must prioritise\nIndonesian sovereignty.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government emphasises that there is no policy granting free\naccess to foreign parties to use Indonesian airspace. Every form of\ncooperation arrangement, including with the United States, remains\nwithin the framework of full Indonesian sovereignty and still requires\napplicable national mechanisms and procedures,\u201d she said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinas-response-after-indonesia-signs-defence-cooperation-agreement-with-the-us-1777009911", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }