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RI, US hold joint navy drill in Malaka Strait and Natuna
The Indonesian Navyâs Aviation Center and the US Navy held a joint sea surveillance exercise in the Malaka Strait and around Natuna Island, located in the South China Sea, to improve security as well as Pacific rebalance
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he Indonesian Navy's Aviation Center and the US Navy held a joint sea surveillance exercise in the Malaka Strait and around Natuna Island, located in the South China Sea, to improve security as well as Pacific rebalance.
The Navy Aviation Center commander, First Commodore Sigit Setiyanta, said on Thursday that the drill, held from April 7 to 10, was held as a routine joint exercise since 2012 and was not related to tension in the South China Sea, where China and neighboring countries Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan have overlapping claims.
'There's no potential for conflict on Natuna. The drill aims to improve air patrol communication, search and rescue techniques and the exchange of information on the procedure of early detection and measures,' Sigit told The Jakarta Post.
The drill involves 88 personnel and the US P3C Orion fleet, with four ships and 21 personnel, as well as Indonesia's CN-235 MPA and Cassa NC-212 MPA aircraft and BO-105 helicopter.
Sigit said the Malaka Strait was one of the busiest waterways in the world and therefore 'the surveillance is part of the important activity to protect the strait, especially from piracy'.
Meanwhile, US Embassy defense attaché Col. Mark Riley stated that the exercise was part of the US policy of Pacific rebalance.
'Yes, this is part of the Pacific rebalance. When in 2012 the president of the United States launched the Pacific rebalance, [it] was to make sure that we conduct exercises and enlarge the Pacific rebalance,' said Riley. (+++++)(++++)
