Indonesia to conduct largest-ever military exercises in South China Sea

[Ayoshi]

Indonesia to conduct largest-ever military exercises in South China Sea | IHS Jane's 360 - 03 October 2016

The exercise will start from 6 October and will begin with a drill involving Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Udara's, or TNI-AU's) fighter jets, transport aircraft, utility helicopters, and ground special forces in an exercise known as 'Angkasa Yudha'.

The drill will simulate an air raid and the seizure of a captured runway, and will take place on Pulau Natuna Besar. The island lies close to the 'nine-dashed' line demarcation that has been unilaterally declared by Beijing as part of its territory. Angkasa Yudha was originally planned to take place on Belitung Island, in Eastern Sumatra, but it has been moved to the Natuna islands region for reasons that have not officially been made clear.

The air serials will be followed by a repeat of Exercise 'Armada Jaya', which took place earlier in September 2016. Like Angkasa Yudha, the drills will also be conducted in and around waters of the Natuna Islands region.

[dr demented]

Looks like Indonesia will also be conducting joint exercises with Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

http://www.ibtimes.com/south-china-sea-conflict-indonesia-new-zealand-australia-malaysia-singapore-britain-2425483

South China Sea Conflict: Indonesia, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Britain Plan War Games
By Cristina Silva
On 10/03/16 AT 12:32 PM

Military officials from New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Britain are holding exercises in the South China Sea this month in the latest display of force aimed at telling Beijing to back off on its claims to the disputed territory, one of the world's most important shipping routes.

The three-week, multinational exercise known as "Exercise Bersama Lima" will include navy, army and air force servicemen from the participating nations. Officials said the event organized by Singapore is aimed at regional security and disaster relief support, according to media reports.

The countries make up the Five Power Defense Arrangements military pact, which requires members to consult each other and take action if there is an armed attack on Malaysia or Singapore.

Indonesia's armed forced also plan to hold large scale military exercises this month with all of its three service branches in the Natuna Islands region in the South China Sea.

Growing tensions between China and its neighboring nations, which are backed up by the U.S., have sparked concern about a looming conflict in the region over the disputed waterway. China has increasingly sent more heavily armed coast guard vessels to patrol the shipping lane that carries up to $5 trillion in trade every year. An arbitration court in the Hague in July ruled that China did not have territorial claims, but Beijing said it did not recognize the decision.

"The risk of conflict in the South China Sea is significant," the Council on Foreign Relations concluded in a recent report. "China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines have competing territorial and jurisdictional claims, particularly over rights to exploit the region's possibly extensive reserves of oil and gas. Freedom of navigation in the region is also a contentious issue, especially between the United States and China over the right of U.S. military vessels to operate in China's two-hundred-mile exclusive economic zone.

[Ayoshi]

Indonesia air force to hold military exercise in South China Sea | atimes

Indonesian Air Force Sukhoi fighter pilots and crew walk across the tarmac after training for an upcoming military exercise at Hang Nadim Airport, Batam, Riau Islands. Antara Foto/M N Kanwa/ via Reuters

asahi

China, while not disputing Indonesia's claims to the Natuna islands, has raised Indonesian anger by saying the two countries had "over-lapping claims" to waters near them, an area Indonesia calls the Natuna Sea.

"We want to show our existence in the area. We have a good enough air force to act as a deterrent," said Jemi Trisonjaya, spokesman for Indonesia's air force.

More than 2,000 air force personnel were taking part in the two-week long exercise, which includes the deployment of Indonesia's fleet of Russian Sukhoi and F-16 fighter jets, he said.

[adroth]

Amid South China Sea uncertainty, Indonesia stages a show of force
By Eveline Danubrata | RANAI, INDONESIA

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-indonesia-idUSKCN1261AW

Indonesian warplanes on Thursday staged a large-scale exercise on the edge of South China Sea territory claimed by Beijing, a show of force that adds to regional uncertainty sparked by the Philippines' sudden tilt away from the United States.

President Joko Widodo watched from Ranai, capital of the Natuna Islands archipelago, with hundreds of military officials as about 70 jets carried out manoeuvres that included a dog fight and dropping bombs on targets off the coast.

"The president has a policy that all the outer islands that are strategic will be strengthened, be it air, maritime or land," Gatot Nurmantyo, commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, told reporters.

"Our country needs to have an umbrella. From corner to corner, we have to safeguard it."

< Edited >