Defence minister says TNI soldiers can gain military knowledge in China

Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has said his ministry will send TNI personnel, from officer level down to enlisted ranks, to undertake military education in China.

The opportunity arises because the Indonesian and Chinese defence ministries have strengthened their defence cooperation following a meeting between Sjafrie and Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun at the Indonesian Defence Ministry building in Jakarta on Friday.

“So we will increase joint exercises, we will increase schooling, and we will increase the exchange of TNI soldiers not only at the officer level, but also at the non-commissioned officer and enlisted levels in relation to joint training,” said Sjafrie.

According to him, the cooperation will have a wide-ranging impact, from improving the quality of soldiers to fostering more harmonious bilateral relations between Indonesia and China.

In addition to military education cooperation, Sjafrie said his ministry will also build cooperation in other areas, such as joint exercises and the development of the defence industry.

“We also invite the Chinese Armed Forces to participate in joint exercises such as Heping Garuda, which is one of the concrete forms of the relationship between the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China,” he said.

Sjafrie expressed hope that the various defence cooperation initiatives will further strengthen the good relations between Indonesia and China, which have been established for 19 years.

“The relationship between Indonesia and China has been very close and we are committed to enhancing this cooperation,” he said.