China's Defence Attaché: Indonesia-China Defence Cooperation Growing Closer

China’s Defence Attaché in Indonesia, Senior Colonel Xu Sheng, has stated that relations between Indonesia and China are growing closer in line with increasing strategic trust between the two nations. Speaking at an event in Jakarta on Monday evening commemorating the 99th anniversary of the founding of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Xu said Indonesia and China have established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that continues to be strengthened through five pillars of cooperation: political, economic, social and cultural, maritime, and security. According to him, under the strategic direction of the two heads of state, defence relations between Indonesia and China are also becoming closer and more substantive. Xu said communication between the military leadership of both countries continues to be maintained and has yielded positive results, including through joint exercises, reciprocal warship visits, personnel training, and multilateral cooperation. He assessed that these various achievements will provide strong support for building a China-Indonesia Community with a Shared Future that has influence at both regional and global levels. On that occasion, Xu also expressed appreciation to Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and various parties in Indonesia and China for their contributions to strengthening military relations between the two countries. He said Indonesia and China have long supported each other in their struggles for independence, national development, and safeguarding their respective sovereignty, security, and strategic interests. ‘Currently, strategic trust between China and Indonesia continues to increase, and the two countries have built a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,’ Xu said. It was previously reported that Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin stated Indonesia’s commitment to building defence cooperation with China to strengthen the region and national sovereignty. This was conveyed by Sjafrie when attending the First 2+2 Meeting between the Republic of Indonesia and the People’s Republic of China in Beijing in April 2025. ‘Indonesia is enhancing cooperation within the context of a comprehensive and strategic partnership with the People’s Republic of China in the defence sector,’ Sjafrie said in an official press release. Several models of cooperation include joint military exercises, strengthening primary weapons systems, and collaboration in the defence industry sector. Not only in the defence sector, Sjafrie and Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun also discussed several crucial issues that could impact the strengthening of bilateral relations between Indonesia and China. With this meeting, Sjafrie expressed hope that defence cooperation between the two countries can be realised and bilateral relations can continue to be well maintained.