KSAL Gives A Signal To Buy China's Alutsista After Accompanying President Prabowo To Beijing

JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL) Admiral Muhammad Ali gave a signal that there was a plan to buy an defense equipment made in China after he accompanied President Prabowo Subianto to visit Beijing, China, on November 8, 2024.

During his overseas visit to China, the President was accompanied by a number of high-ranking military officials including Admiral Ali and the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force (KSAU) Marshal TNI M. Tonny Harjono.

"Alhamdulillah, from the talks with all parties in the People's Republic of China (China, ed.) everything is going very harmonious. Cooperation will be greatly improved in all fields. Especially for the military, there will also be cooperation in the defense sector, including the possibility of procurement of defense equipment from the People's Republic of China," said Admiral Ali during a press conference at the Marine Secretariat of Hartono, Cilandak, Jakarta, Antara, Tuesday, November 12.

However, Ali said he had not been able to reveal the details of the procurement plan, including for the type of defense equipment targeted by the Indonesian Navy. "Maybe it can't be done now, later after a new contract can be submitted," said KSAL.

In Beijing, KSAL accompanies the President's activities meeting a number of important Chinese state officials and figures, namely Chinese President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the China National People's Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji.

"We attended several honorary visits to the Chinese Congress or its MPR, then its prime minister and finally to President Xi Jinping," he said.

China was the first country Prabowo visited after he was officially sworn in as President on October 20, 2024. After visiting China, the President continued his trip to Washington D.C., United States, then Lima, Peru to attend the APEC Summit, continuing to Sao Paulo, Brazil to attend the G20 Summit, and flying to London, England.

Regarding the cooperation between Indonesia and China, especially in the defense sector, in the near future the Indonesian Navy and the Chinese Navy (PLA) will hold a joint exercise Heping Garuda in December 2024.

The Indonesian Navy and the PLA have prepared the joint exercise at a coordination meeting between sea officials (NTNCT) in Beijing, China, on October 28, 2024.