In a meeting with his visiting counterpart Chinese Defense Minister and State Councilor Gen. Chang Wanquan at his office on Monday, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro expressed Indonesia'€™s concern over security developments in East Asia, particularly the relations between the world'€™s second- and third-largest economies, China and Japan.

Purnomo said that although they did not specifically discuss the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) recently imposed by China in the East China Sea, he quoted Chang as saying at the start of the meeting that '€œany bilateral, multilateral or regional problems need to be resolved through dialogue and consultation'€.

The minister noted that the friction between China and Japan played a very influential role in the security and stability of the Asia Pacific region.

'€œHonestly, we are concerned that there could be open conflict between the two countries because it could extend to other areas,'€ Purnomo said.

'€œWe hope that there will be direct communication between the two parties,'€ he added.

Purnomo said that Indonesia hoped China and Japan could engage in direct communications to resolve the territorial disputes in the East China Sea, particularly regarding the overlapping ownership claims on the Senkaku/Diayou Islands southwest of Japan.

'€œI said to Gen. Chang that Indonesia hopes not to see open conflict between China and Japan because it would have a major impact on the stability and security of Asia,'€ Purnomo told the press after the meeting.

Purnomo officially invited the Chinese military to the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue next March which will have maritime security as its main topic. He said that the Chinese delegation had promised to send a substantial delegation with high-ranking officials.

'€œWe hope they will come as China will be able to convey their views on, say, the South and East China seas,'€ Purnomo said.

The Jakarta meeting between Purnomo and Chang also resulted in an agreement to hold joint naval exercises in the South China Sea where four ASEAN nations; Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, and Malaysia; have overlapping claims with China.

'€œThe location for the joint exercise will be in Indonesia'€™s territory in the South China Sea,'€ Purnomo said, rebuffing suggestions that the exercise could contribute to growing tension in the region.

Purnomo'€™s meeting with Chang came amid heightened tension over China'€™s growing assertiveness in the region following Beijing'€™s recent announcement of its ADIZ. The zone covers an area which is controlled by Tokyo but also claimed by Beijing, triggering protests from Japan, the US and South Korea.

Purnomo'€™s statement was also in line with the hope expressed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, saying that Indonesia, the most influential nation and the biggest economy in Southeast Asia, could play more of a role in addressing the growing tension in the East China Sea.

Yudhoyono'€™s statement was made on Sunday after the President, First Lady Ani Yudhoyono and delegates returned from Tokyo, where they joined other Southeast Asian leaders and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attending the 40th ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit.

'€œJapan and China are major countries, so we'€™d like to prevent any open conflict from breaking out,'€ Purnomo said.

Purnomo added that Indonesia would send air force pilots to Beijing to attend aviation courses. '€œBeijing has an air base with simulators for planes such as the Sukhoi 27 and 30. The aviation courses using simulators in Beijing are more economical, compared to funding the training with actual planes,'€ Purnomo said.

Chang is on a five-day visit to Indonesia as a follow-up to Chinese President Xi Jinping'€™s visit in October. (asw)

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