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day after the Indonesian Military (TNI) celebrated its 71st anniversary, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday visited Natuna Islands, one of the country’s outermost areas bordering on the South China Sea, which has seen territorial disputes involving several countries.

It was Jokowi’s second visit to the islands, which are home to abundant fish and gas resources and often considered a flash point. On his visit, he attended the closing of the Air Force’s Angkasa Yudha exercises, which started on Sept. 29 and were dubbed by the Air Force as the biggest ever.

Thursday’s training module involved 50 aircraft, including jet fighters like F16s, Sukhoi SU-30s, Skyhawks and Super Tucanos, as well as about 2,300 Air Force personnel.

“We want to strengthen the economy in the border areas and empower the defense and security in that region,” Jokowi said.

The President also inaugurated the newly expanded Ranai Airport in another part of Natuna. Jokowi said he expected the airport would “help improve the mobility of people and goods”.

Jokowi appeared to focus more on the non-military development of the Natuna Islands, which is essential not only to ensure local people’s welfare, but also to prevent other countries from enforcing any claim over Indonesia’s vast maritime territory.

Unlike some of its neighbors, Indonesia is not a claimant in any territorial dispute in the South China Sea, but parts of Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in Natuna are included within the so-called nine-dash line, a demarcation unilaterally declared by China to encompass, among other things, its “traditional fishing grounds”.

The Angkasa Yudha exercise in Natuna could be perceived by neighboring countries as a show of Indonesian military force, but officials downplayed such speculation, saying that the exercises were not aimed at showing Indonesia’s teeth to China, or to any other countries.

The Foreign Ministry, through its spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir, insisted once more that the training was merely a part of a regular military exercise, saying the only factor that made it special was “probably because it was done at the same time as the TNI anniversary”.

He refused to comment on speculation over whether the exercise was aimed at showing off Indonesia’s forces to other countries, particularly China, but said that “it is within Indonesia’s sovereignty to conduct any military exercise in its territory”.

Both the Ranai Air Force base’s commander, Col. Nurtantio Affan, and the Tanjungpinang Air Force base’s commander, Col. Ign Wahyu Anggono, presented the same argument, although Affan later said the Air Force perceived the frontline region of Natuna as an ideal location to demonstrate its capabilities.

“We always anticipate various possibilities as threats that can come from anywhere. If we look at Natuna, a threat could come here at any time. [Therefore] as a frontline region, Natuna is considered an ideal training ground,” said Affan, who said Jokowi’s presence in Natuna made the event special, not only for the Air Force, but also for the local people.

The government has been trying to improve military infrastructure to enhance maritime security, especially in border areas, with the Air Force expecting to expand the Tanjungpinang base.

The construction of a submarine base in Central Sulawesi’s Palu Bay, which directly connects to island waters that border with Malaysia and the Philippines, is currently underway.

However, as reported earlier, the defense budget is also set to be slashed in the second round of budget cuts.

Although Jakarta remains adamant that there is no dispute over its sovereignty in the South China Sea, Jokowi should show a more consistent stance on the waters, said international security and defense expert Evan Laksmana.

“The problem, however, is that Jokowi’s message on the South China Sea has been inconsistent and the pattern of inconsistency has been more obvious this year, especially involving China,” he added, pointing out that Jakarta had let a March incident involving a Chinese vessel accused of illegally fishing in Natuna waters be resolved behind closed doors.

The exercises, Evan said, were not new and actually would lead to the big tri-service combined TNI exercises scheduled for next year, but they “do create the impression that the Indonesian Military continues to stand ready to defend the country’s territorial waters in the face of any encroachment” amid the recent tensions around the South China Sea, both at the diplomatic and military levels.

“So while this exercise is routine for the military, which has been consistent in its concerns over Indonesia’s regularly punctured maritime governance space, Jokowi needs to have more consistent and coherent South China Sea and China policies,” he added.

Zamzami A. Karim, political expert from a university near Natuna, lauded Jokowi’s attention to Natuna’s development, saying that “all this time Natuna has often been neglected. Therefore, having the central government paying attention to the region is something.” (sha)

— Ina Parlina contributed to this story from Jakarta.