Indonesia plans to strengthen its capability to defend its land and waters in the South China Sea, namely the Natuna Islands around which the country has declared an exclusive economic zone that overlaps with china’s “nine-dash line” maritime claim, its defense minister said Tuesday.
“The Natuna Islands are our outer islands. It is quite natural and logical that a country has to secure its outer islands,” Ryamizard Ryacudu said in an interview, speaking to Kyodo news ahead of “two-plus-two” security talks in Tokyo on Thursday that will involve the foreign and defense ministers of Indonesia and Japan.
Indonesia plans to deploy a fleet of jet fighters and three corvettes to the islands revamp it’s naval and air force base and deploy more troops.
Indonesia currently has about 800 service members in Natuna.
Next year, the number will rise to about 2,000.