REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has given its approval to forge defense cooperation respectively with China and Germany.
"Can these two bills be passed into laws?" Deputy House Speaker Fadli Zon questioned during a plenary meeting of the parliament here on Tuesday.
The bills were passed into laws after all legislators attending the meeting voiced their consent to the establishment of the defense cooperation.
The new laws are respectively on Approval for Agreement between the Indonesian government and the People's Republic of China on Cooperation in Defense Activities and a memorandum of understanding between the defense ministries of Indonesia and Germany on defense cooperation.
Deputy Chairman of DPR's Commission I Asril Hamzah Tandjung emphasized the need for defense cooperation to protect the country's sovereignty, to develop the state, and to participate in the world order.
Defense Minister Ryamizad Ryacudu noted that the defense cooperation respectively with Germany and China have been established and strengthened on the basis of mutual benefits.
It is also based on the principles of equality and respect for the territorial borders of the respective countries in order to promote world peace.
The new laws are needed as a legal umbrella for establishing defense cooperation with Germany and China, according to Ryacudu.