A surprising statement was made by the United States aka the US to Indonesia and China. The US will officially help Indonesia deal with China's maritime aggression, especially in Natuna.
The US announcement bodes well for Indonesia but bad news for China. It is known that survey ships and Chinese coast guard are often in the waters of North Natuna. This US statement is published directly on the official state.gov website.
Washington directed that it would provide military assistance to Indonesia against China. Because Indonesia supports the vision of Free and Open Indo Pacific that the US has promoted.
"The United States and Indonesia share a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including a commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight." report state.gov.
The US recognizes that Indonesia is the leader of ASEAN, the main Southeast Asian power that has great influence in the region.
"Indonesia is a leader in ASEAN and an anchor of a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. The United States remains deeply engaged in the Indo-Pacific, and we and our partners believe that the best way to prevent conflict is to strengthen our shared values," he added. .
Therefore, the balance of the ASEAN region depends on Indonesia so that Jakarta must be supported to make it happen.
"We support Indonesia's strong efforts to safeguard its maritime rights and fight China's aggression in the South China Sea, including in its exclusive economic zone around the Natuna Islands," stated state.gov.
US military assistance can be in the form of defense equipment in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program or routine war games. The US itself is proud because they can be part of the Indonesian defense system.
"Security cooperation is a central pillar of our strategic partnership. The United States is proud to be Indonesia's largest defense partner in terms of the number of exercises and annual events in which we participate together. Our cooperation on counterterrorism and in countering violent extremism is also an important component of our joint efforts. to build a safer world," he added.
This statement from state.gov came out after US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken visited Indonesia on December 13-14, 2021. Blinken visited when Indonesia was hit by a Chinese protest that sounded a threat to ban oil drilling in Natuna.
Muhammad Farhan, a member of the Indonesian parliament on the national security committee who knows the exact contents of the letter, stated firmly that Natuna belongs to Indonesia until the end of the world.
"Our answer is very firm, that we will not stop drilling because it is our sovereign right," Farhan said as quoted by Reuters, Wednesday 11 November 2021. Farhan explained that the contents of the letter were threatening.
"(The letter) is a bit threatening because it is the first attempt by Chinese diplomats to push their nine-dash line agenda towards our rights under the Law of the Sea," Farhan said.
Blinken's arrival to Indonesia seemed to give a warning to China not to mess with the stability of the ASEAN region.
"On top of our shared vision of a free, open, connected, resilient and secure region," Blinken said in September 2021.
Sure enough, after Blinken's visit, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson was in Indonesia. Quoted from the Twitter account @dundang, on December 23, 2021, when Japan's JS Izumo faced China's Liaoning aircraft carrier in the Miyako Strait.
USS Carl Vinson was about to head to the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines by passing through the waters of ALKI III near Halmahera after obtaining permission from the Indonesian authorities. USS Carl Vinson headed north to join the AUKUS fleet there.
The state.gov statement does not seem to be a figment where there is the Carrier Battle Group USS Carl Vinson, which has passed through Indonesia several times to support the US slogan, namely Free And Open Indo Pacific to face China.