China's Natuna Aggression Challenges Indonesia's Defense Diplomacy
- NDTV.
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Budiman highlighted China's calculated, gradual tactics to expand its influence. “China has prioritized maritime strength as its core interest, a policy rooted in Deng Xiaoping's era,” Budiman explained, urging Indonesia to emulate China’s maritime focus.
“Without maritime power, don’t even attempt diplomacy,” he stated. He also called for a robust Indonesian strategy to counter external pressures, suggesting the Ministry of Defense should lead this effort.
Ristian Atriandi argued that China’s approach is more military than defensive, “driven by Communist Party interests,” yet he acknowledged the importance of constructive defense diplomacy with China to reduce tensions at sea.
“Indonesia’s non-aligned stance is reinforced through such diplomatic engagements,” he said, but warned of potential downsides. “Firstly, it hasn’t curbed China’s assertiveness in Natuna. Secondly, it could enable China to assess our capabilities,” he cautioned.
A representative from Indonesia's Defense Ministry stressed that Indonesia's non-alignment remains intact. “Our defense partnerships do not compromise our commitment to international law, especially UNCLOS,” he stated, affirming that Indonesia seeks to balance national interests with global principles.