The two Japanese-made patrol boats, which are to be deployed to secure "choke points" in the waters off Indonesia's future capital in East Java, were donated in a deal agreed last month by President Prabowo and Prime Minister Ishiba.
he Defense Ministry plans to deploy two high-speed patrol boats donated by Japan off the coast of Nusantara, the country’s future capital in East Kalimantan.
“The Navy chief of staff told me that the patrol boats are to be deployed in Nusantara [waters] to secure our [maritime] choke points,” Defense Minister Sjafrie Samsoeddin told a meeting with House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense on Wednesday, as quoted by Kompas.com.
Sjafrie said the vessels, “brand-new and made in Japan”, were each 5 meters wide and 18 meters long, had a diesel engine with a top speed of 40 knots and the capacity to carry 16 people.
“Japan wants to show its capability to produce [patrol boats] domestically, and we respect that,” he said, adding that the government planned to install weaponry on the boats.
Commission I chair Utut Adianto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) closed Wednesday’s meeting by saying, “House Commission I approves the patrol boats as part of Japan’s Official Security Assistance [OSA], as detailed in the letter from the Defense Minister to the House Speaker,” as quoted by Kompas.com.
Read also: Budget for new capital remains intact, Basuki Hadimuljono says
President Prabowo Subianto and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba struck the deal on Tokyo’s donating the two patrol boats to Jakarta during their bilateral meeting last month.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.