China and Indonesia Expand Defense and Technology Ties

China and Indonesia conducted high-level diplomatic and defense talks in Jakarta on August 21, 2026, to strengthen military, maritime, and technology partnerships. The meetings featured the inaugural Indonesia-China Comprehensive Strategic Dialogue and a 2+2 ministerial dialogue involving foreign and defense ministers from both nations.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono focused on increasing market access for Indonesian commodities and the continuation of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project. Simultaneously, defense ministers Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Dong Jun agreed to expand personnel exchanges and defense-industry partnerships, specifically targeting cooperation in artificial intelligence, communications satellites, and energy.

These agreements come as President Prabowo Subianto maintains a non-aligned foreign policy to balance relations between Beijing and Washington. Despite the diplomatic progress, tensions remain over the South China Sea and recent joint naval exercises east of Taiwan. While Taiwan condemned the exercises as a military provocation, Indonesia characterized them as routine. Economic frictions also persist regarding Indonesian nickel policies and regulatory hurdles facing Chinese firms.