Indonesia's position is clear that we are non-aligned. We befriend all countries. Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto has clarified that he has not issued any joint statement with the US Secretary of Defense regarding China's claims in the South China Sea."Yes, it is a statement, but there was no joint statement, nor was there a press conference," he said in Jakarta on Thursday. He met with his US counterpart, Lloyd J. Austin III, last week during a working visit to the United States. During the visit, Subianto witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Indonesian and US defense industries on the purchasing of F-15EX fighter jets and Sikorsky S-70M Black Hawk helicopters. t the meeting, he and the US Defense Secretary discussed bilateral relations in the defense sector and sought to expand their coverage. They also discussed security issues in the region. fter the meeting, on August 24, 2023, the US Department of Defense issued a joint press statement stating that the two ministers shared the view that China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea are inconsistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Source: Antara News Agency