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.
Indonesia’s air force is holding its largest military exercise this week, near some of its islands
in the South China Sea, in a show of sovereignty over the gas-rich area on the
fringe of territory claimed by China, officials said on Tuesday.
President Joko Widodo in June launched an unprecedented campaign to
bolster fishing, oil exploration and defense facilities around the Natuna
island chain after a series of face-offs between the Indonesian navy and
Chinese fishing boats.
China, while not disputing Indonesia’s clams 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 a spokesman for Indonesia’s air force. Antara
Foto/M N Kanwa
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