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Riau Islands Police beefed up to 12,000 to anticipate South China Sea tension
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo (center), accompanied by Navy chief of staff Adm. Ade Supandi (left) and other senior officials, inspects the warship KRI Imam Bonjol 383 after a Cabinet meeting onboard in Natuna waters, Riau Islands, on June 23, 2016. (Kompas)
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olice personnel numbers on Riau Islands will be doubled to anticipate conflict in the South China Sea following the change of leadership in the United States, as the nation has played a role in the disputed waters.
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian stated on Friday the number of police would be increased to around 12,000 personnel from the current 5,000 on Riau Islands, the province located closest to the South China Sea, following the upgraded level of Riau Islands Police from type B to type A.
“Although Indonesia is not a claimant party in the disputed waters we should always be on alert, and even more so as we will see a succession of leadership in the US from President Barack Obama to Donald Trump [on Friday],” he said.
Tito reminded that the change of US leadership would affect their policy toward the South China Sea—a potential flash point between “superpower” countries like the US and China.
Following the level upgrade, Riau Islands Police would now have a two-star general as its chief and 12,000 personnel according the police’s standards.
The province now has seven police precincts and one police sub-precinct with Natuna and Anambas police precincts adjacent to the South China Sea.
The National Police also upgraded the Lampung Police and the Riau Police in December last year. As a result, the two provinces would also be strengthened with increased police personnel, improved infrastructure and be led by higher echelon officials.
