REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo has reiterated Indonesia's commitment to maintaining security and stability in South China Sea.
The government also called on every element to not conduct activities in South China Sea that could increase tensions, the TNI chief stated here, Monday.
"It means that whatever country invites (us) to take part (in a joint military exercise) in South China Sea, it is better that the TNI does not accept it, for the sake of (regional) stability," the general emphasized.
The Indonesian military will only conduct activities that are in line with the government's policy, he affirmed.
"The TNI has to function in accordance with and obey whatever the government's policies are," he noted.
Earlier, China had offered to conduct a joint military exercise in South China Sea amid tensions arising due to overlapping territorial claims by some ASEAN member nations in the region.
The offer was conveyed by the Chinese defense minister during a recent informal meeting of the Chinese and ASEAN member countries' defense ministers in Beijing.
Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan stated that the objectives of the joint military exercise would be to ensure maritime protection and disaster mitigation.
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