British media exposed that Indonesia has rejected the request for the landing of a US spy plane: it does not want to be tricked into an anti-China movement
British media exposed that Indonesia has rejected the request for the landing of a US spy plane: it does not want to be tricked into an anti-China movement October 20.
British Reuters reported exclusively on the 20th that Indonesian officials have rejected the US request this year to allow its P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft to land and refuel in Indonesia.
The British media quoted four senior Indonesian officials who were informed that in July and August this year, US officials had many times of “high-level” contacts with the Indonesian Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs, hoping to allow its P-8 “Poseidon” patrol aircraft in Indonesia. Stop or refuel within the territory. Indonesian President Joko Widodo later rejected this request.
Reuters quoted a senior Indonesian official who was informed as saying that the Indonesian government was surprised by the request of the US. Indonesia has long pursued a neutral foreign policy and has never allowed foreign troops to conduct military activities in the country. In September of this year, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno said that Indonesia does not want to favor either side over the tension between China and the United States over the South China Sea issue.
Former Indonesian ambassador to the United States Dino Padi Jalal said that the United States’ “extremely radical anti-China policy” has made Indonesia and surrounding areas uneasy. “This seems a bit out of place. We don’t want to be tricked into an anti-China movement. Of course we have to remain independent, but Indonesia has deeper economic ties with China. China is currently the most influential country in Indonesia.”
Craig Pollin, an expert on Southeast Asian issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, said that the US attempted to fight for the landing rights for spy planes was a clumsy ultra vires act, which shows that the US government has very limited understanding of Indonesia. There is a clear boundary for everything. When it comes to Indonesia, the boundary is the dispatch of ground troops. According to Reuters, the United States has frequently used military bases in Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia to conduct near reconnaissance in the South China Sea.
