Indonesia To Explore Defense Industry Cooperation With China
Friday, 12 May, 2006 | 14:57 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Indonesian government will explore the possibility of cooperation in the defense industry with China. The two governments represented by the Defense Department of each country will discuss the matter today at the Indonesian Defense Department, Jakarta.

“This meeting is the follow up of the strategic agreement in May 2005 when the President visited China (Beijing),” the Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono told Tempo by phone in Jakarta yesterday.

During the visit the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister signed the agreement for the Minister of Defense, the Minister of Research and Technology, and the Minister of Industry, who wanted to explore cooperation in the defense industry for the Indonesian Military (TNI) Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Indonesia still imports several light weapons, explosives, and large-caliber artillery from China. In addition, China also cooperates with the National Space & Aviation Agency in developing rockets.

Regarding supplying the TNI Navy and Air Force, the government will discuss the matter today. “That is what is going to be discussed. We will compare the offers from Eastern Europe,” said Juwono.

Supplying defense equipment such as China has done, according to Juwono, will be commensurate with domestic industry such as PT PINDAD and PT Dahana.

Fanny Febiana