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Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Indonesian government, through the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah, commented on the report of the United States (USA) Ministry of Defense to Congress on the possibility of establishing Chinese military bases in various countries, including Indonesia.
He said this was not possible due to RI’s foreign policy concept, which adheres to a “free and active” attitude.
“RI’s foreign policy, which is free and active, does not open the space for this kind of military cooperation with any country,” he said when contacted by CNBC Indonesia via a short message on Thursday (3/9/2020 ).
“This kind of cooperation is impossible, especially since Indonesia is a country that actively promotes a peaceful, free and neutral ASEAN region (ZOPFAN) and constantly rejects foreign military bases in Southeast Asia.”
Earlier, a report from the United States (US) Department of Defense or the Pentagon to Congress said that China wanted to build military bases in various countries.
Laporan itu berjudul “Military and security advances involving the People’s Republic of China”.
Quoted from the website www.defense.gov, the US military said that China targeted various countries around the world including Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola and Tajikistan, including Indonesia. .
“China is likely already considering and planning additional military logistics facilities to support naval, air and land projections,” the report said, quoted on Thursday (3/9/2020).
The United States said China was using the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI / OBOR) project as an intermediary, with the participation of several countries, including Indonesia.
This project is a program started by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 that aims to build large-scale land, sea and air infrastructure to improve and enhance trade and economic routes between countries in Asia and beyond.
Where BRI provides large financing funds for its members, up to US $ 150 billion or equivalent to Rp 2,137.6 billion per year.
Countries participating in the program can borrow the funds to build their infrastructure.
“Currently, China is using commercial infrastructure to support all of its military operations abroad, including the presence of the PLA in other countries, including its base in Djibouti,” the report said.
“Some of China’s BRI projects could create potential military advantages, such as the PLA’s access to selected foreign ports to reposition the logistical support necessary to sustain naval deployments in waters as far away as the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. to protect the growing interest. “
The Pentagon also mentioned that China was doubling its stock of warheads over the next decade. Currently, China has 200 warheads.
Still, as written by Reuters, the Chinese side certainly denied it. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying called the reports highly biased.
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