Prabowo Subianto and Chinese Foreign Minister Discuss Plans for Joint Military Exercises

In response to Prabowo's visit, the Chinese Foreign Minister came to Jakarta. Prabowo hopes that joint military training will be realized.

AP/ACHMAD IBRAHIM/POOL

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto received a visit from Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Ministry of Defense, Jakarta, Thursday (18/4/2024).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The Defense Minister and President with the highest number of votes according to the General Election Commission, Prabowo Subianto, had a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In the closed meeting, they discussed several defense cooperation areas including education, joint exercises, and defense industries.

Prabowo received Wang Yi at the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) Office in Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024). Wang Yi and his delegation arrived around 10:58 and were welcomed by Prabowo in front of the Kemenhan Building. According to Prabowo, Wang Yi's visit was a great honor. Prior to meeting with Prabowo, Wang Yi met with President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

"Thanks to such a good reception, I was received in Beijing a few weeks ago," Prabowo said to Wang Yi.

Also read: China and Japan Welcome Prabowo as Elected President

As reported, Prabowo met with President Xi Jinping; Chinese Prime Minister, Li Qiang; and Chinese Defense Minister, China Dong Jun during a courtesy visit to Beijing in early April.

AP/XINHUA/YAO DAWEI

In a photo released by Xinhua news agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping shook hands with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday (1/4/2024).

Joint military exercises

The meeting between Prabowo and Wang Yi was held in private. They discussed a number of defense collaborations that encompassed education, joint exercises, and the defense industry.

Educational cooperation in the field of defense has been recorded between the two countries since the 1970s. Currently, a number of Indonesian defense personnel are also undergoing education in China, and vice versa.

We really hope that the joint training plan between the two countries can be realized in the near future.

In addition to discussing education in defense, Prabowo and Wang Yi also discussed military plans between the two countries. According to Prabowo, military exercises will provide a positive contribution to the defense of both countries. Prabowo hopes that the plan can be realized soon.

"We really hope that the joint training plan between the two countries can be realized in the near future," he said.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Defense Minister Prabowo Subanto and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi listened to the national anthem during their meeting at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta on Thursday (18/4/2024). Before meeting Prabowo, Wang Yi had met with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace.

Heavy duty

On that occasion, Wang Yi expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received. Wang Yi also offered congratulations on Prabowo's victory in the 2024 Presidential Election.

According to Wang Yi, building a great nation like Indonesia is a challenging task. However, he believes that Prabowo is capable of carrying it out.

I am confident that Your Excellency will undertake the difficult task of building Indonesia towards progress and the nation's revival, and opening up an even more glorious future under Your Excellency's leadership.

"I am confident that Your Excellency will undertake the difficult task of building Indonesia towards the development and rise of the nation and opening an even more glorious future under the leadership of Your Excellency," said Wang Yi.

Separately, a political observer of international relations from Budi Luhur University, Yusran, views the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as part of the return visit by Prabowo to China some time ago. At that time, Prabowo visited as a presidential candidate with the most votes and also as the Minister of Defense.

If we observe the current geopolitical situation of the world, continued Yusran, the meeting between the Chinese Foreign Minister and Prabowo is considered to have a broad meaning, especially related to conflicts in various parts of the world and their impact on the global economy. Indonesia has a significant interest in China, especially in terms of cooperation that has been quite harmonious with China's investments in Indonesia.

DOKUMENTASI KEMENTERIAN LUAR NEGERI CHINA

The winner of the 2024 Presidential Election, Prabowo Subianto (fifth from the right), held a meeting with President Xi Jinping of China (fifth from the left) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on April 1st, 2024.

Prepare for Xi Jimping's arrival

This reaffirms that in the future administration under Prabowo Subianto, it seems that the cooperation that has been established by Jokowi will continue, including the possibility of expansion into other fields.

On the contrary, China and other countries have interests in Indonesia. Indonesia is currently considered a key player on the global stage, as it is an influential country in ASEAN and has a relatively stable economy.

"This confirms once again that under Prabowo Subianto's government, the cooperation that has been initiated by Jokowi will seemingly continue, including the possibility of expansion in other areas," said Yusran.

Also read: Prabowo Warmly Welcomed in China

According to Yusran, the arrival of China's Foreign Minister has the potential to open up possibilities for cooperation with Indonesia in a wider range of fields, not just defense. On the other hand, Yusran predicts that the arrival of China's Foreign Minister is also intended to prepare for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Indonesia.

"So, this is the first visit where I see that there will be a lot of cooperation that will be built by the two countries," he said.