US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin Met With His Indonesian Counterpart

US Secretary of Defense  Lloyd J. Austin met with his Indonesian counterpart on Monday to urge stronger defense ties amid increasing Chinese naval activity in the Indo-Pacific. 

Austin, speaking at a joint news conference after meeting Indonesia's Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, said they had discussed ways to deepen the two countries' partnership, including by expanding interoperability and increasing investment in defense education. Austin said. But Subianto emphasized Indonesia's neutral stance.

I would like to emphasize that Indonesia always tries to maintain the best relations with all nations, especially with major powers," Subianto said. Austin arrived in Jakarta  Sunday night after visiting Halifax, Canada, where he discussed U.S. efforts to build a more resilient security architecture with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific and Europe at the Halifax Security International forum. 

His visit to Indonesia comes less than a week after the leaders  of the Group of 20 economies met in Bali, Indonesia's resort island. In a statement, he strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and warned that the conflict was aggravating an already fragile global economy.

"We come together as the world grapples with attacks on the rules-based international order, particularly Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine," Austin said, "and it's especially important now that more like-minded countries come together to defend our... Common ground to defend principles, including the rule of law. 

He applauded Indonesia for its vote at the UN General Assembly earlier this year condemning Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Area in the South China Sea that China claims almost all of. 

Subianto said Indonesia regards China as a friendly nation and the two countries have ways to deal with potential misunderstandings and disagreements in disputes over territorial waters. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, right, and Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto inspect an honor guard 

We believe we can resolve them through dialogue," Subianto said, "however, we  emphasize that Indonesia will defend its sovereignty and we will defend our independence. China and four members of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations have overlapping claims to the South China Sea, home to important shipping lanes, abundant fish stocks and underwater mineral resources. 

China and ASEAN have made little progress in finalizing a code of conduct to avoid conflict in the region. Austin and Subianto are both attending an expanded meeting of ASEAN security ministers that begins Tuesday in Cambodia. China's Minister General of Defense Wei Fenghe will also be in attendance, giving him and Austin the opportunity to meet face-to-face. 

Defense ministers from ASEAN and eight partner countries, including the USA, Japan and China, are expected to attend the two-day meeting. While China's influence and military strength in the region is growing rapidly, the US remains its dominant military power. 

Washington also has a security alliance with the Philippines and strong ties with other ASEAN members. seeking to expand US military presence in the Philippines during a meeting  Monday with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.