Indonesia and China pledge deeper defence ties and joint energy-security initiatives
Indonesia’s foreign minister and his Chinese counterpart met in Jakarta to expand defence collaboration and boost food, energy and mineral security between the two nations.
Top officials from Indonesia and China convened in Jakarta to chart a more extensive partnership covering defence, food, energy and mineral security. Foreign ministers Sugiono and Wang Yi said the new bilateral dialogue would drive progress in political, economic, security, maritime and people-to-people ties, while also opposing unilateral bullying and preserving the rights of developing nations. They pledged to cooperate on advanced sectors such as artificial intelligence, communications satellites and other high-tech initiatives, and to open markets for Indonesia’s flagship commodities.
Defence ministers Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Dong Jun met separately, discussing material cooperation, personnel exchanges and inviting Chinese forces to joint drills like the Heping Garuda exercise. The talks underscore Indonesia’s growing economic links with China, which total about $167 billion in 2025, and reflect China’s commitment to its Belt and Road projects in the region.
Why it matters
The agreement could reshape regional security dynamics and deepen economic interdependence between two major emerging economies.
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