Indonesia looks to calm waters with Japan over BRICS move

Indonesia and Japan said they want to strengthen maritime co-operation ahead of the two nations’ leaders meeting amid concerns over Jakarta’s recent move to join the BRICS alliance.

Indonesia's Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, right, welcomes Japan's Defence Minister, Gen Nakatani, in Jakarta on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

Indonesia and Japan said they want to strengthen maritime co-operation as their leaders prepare to meet later this week, amid concerns over Jakarta’s recent move to join the BRICS alliance, which has raised questions about its growing ties with China.

Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin received a visit on Tuesday from Japan’s ­Defence Minister, Gen Nakatani, in Jakarta, where they said the two countries wanted to enhance interoperability between the Indonesian Navy and Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force.

“We recognise the importance of co-operation in military equipment to enhance the maritime capabilities of both countries,” Mr Sjamsoeddin said in a statement.

“The co-operation between our two countries has great potential, especially in enhancing regional stability through military co-operation, capacity building, and improving interoperability.”

Tuesday’s visit was part of the preparation for the bilateral meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto on Friday.

The Japanese government is seeking confirmation whether the Indonesian side is still interested in a proposed joint development of vessels, including frigates and submarines, according to reports from Japanese media. Australia and Germany reportedly have been involved in this program.

Defence Ministry spokesman Frega Ferdinand Wenas said while the two ministers discussed “co-operation on defence technology transfer”, they had yet to talk about any specific procurement.

“Technology transfer cannot happen quickly; it will take time, but it was discussed. Both defence ministers agreed that there should be co-operation, and we will explore how this can be developed, whether in naval vessels or other defence equipment,” he said.

Indonesia's Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, right, welcomes Japan's Defence Minister Gen Nakatani before their meeting. Picture: AFP/Indonesian Defence Ministry

Indonesia controls strategic sea routes including parts of the Malacca Straits, one of the key ­focuses in Japan’s maritime strategy in the Indo-Pacific. Japan also has particular interest in developing Indonesia’s far flung islands that border the highly contested South China Sea, where Beijing has made sweeping one-sided claims.

Such claims were invalidated in a 2016 international ­tribunal ruling referencing UNCLOS, which Beijing has chosen to ­ignore. Vietnam, Malaysia, The Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan all have competing claims in the ­waters.

However, in November last year, the Indonesian government unwittingly signed off a joint statement with Beijing in which they recognised “areas of overlapping claims”, which experts believe undermined the country’s existing position of not recognising China’s Nine Dash Line claim over the South China Sea and which consequently meant Indonesia had no dispute with China.

Indonesia raised eyes earlier this week when it officially joined the BRICS group in a move that is feared to have positioned it closer to China and Russia, the largest members of the organisation that self-identifies as a non-Western ­alliance. However, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said its membership to BRICS only reflected its goal to amplify the Global South voice.

Mr Wenas said the move was based on Indonesia’s principle of an independent and active foreign policy.

“We don’t want to side with any particular block – left, right, north, south, or east. We aim to collaborate with other nations for the stability, peace, and prosperity of Indonesia,” he said.

“But from our standpoint, we adopt an independent policy that allows us to form relationships for Indonesia’s benefit.”