Indonesia Refuses Landing of US Military Aircrafts for Refuels, Vows to “Remain Neutral” amid Growing Sino-American Tensions
Reuters quoted four high-ranking Indonesian officials on 20 October as saying that Indonesia had refused earlier this year to let America’s P-8 patrol aircrafts land and refuel. It was claimed that Indonesia wished to “remain neutral” diplomatically as it had always been amid the increasingly fierce competition between the US and China.
The report quoted the sources as saying that US officials had repeatedly contacted Indonesia’s defence and foreign ministers at a “high level” in July and August. According to the sources, the US was seeking permission to land and refuel its P-8 maritime patrol aircrafts, responsible for monitoring China’s actions in the South China Sea. The request was denied by Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
The report said the request surprised Indonesia, which had remained neutral diplomatically and had never allowed foreign military activities in its territory as the sources noted. As US-China tensions mount in Southeast Asia, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said in September that Indonesia did not wish to be involved in their competition.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct20
#Indonesia #US #China #SoutheastAsia #SouthChinaSea #JokoWidodo #RetnoMarsudi #Military #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/31McdyX
Reuters quoted four high-ranking Indonesian officials on 20 October as saying that Indonesia had refused earlier this year to let America’s P-8 patrol aircrafts land and refuel. It was claimed that Indonesia wished to “remain neutral” diplomatically as it had always been amid the increasingly fierce competition between the US and China.
The report quoted the sources as saying that US officials had repeatedly contacted Indonesia’s defence and foreign ministers at a “high level” in July and August. According to the sources, the US was seeking permission to land and refuel its P-8 maritime patrol aircrafts, responsible for monitoring China’s actions in the South China Sea. The request was denied by Indonesian president Joko Widodo.
The report said the request surprised Indonesia, which had remained neutral diplomatically and had never allowed foreign military activities in its territory as the sources noted. As US-China tensions mount in Southeast Asia, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said in September that Indonesia did not wish to be involved in their competition.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct20
#Indonesia #US #China #SoutheastAsia #SouthChinaSea #JokoWidodo #RetnoMarsudi #Military #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/31McdyX
Allies Support Taiwan’s Admission to UN in Joint Letter to Secretary-General
Calls for Taiwan’s admission to the UN from the international community intensify. Following the 75th session of the UN general assembly, 10 of the countries with which Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations submitted a petition to the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres on 10 October in protest of Taiwan’s exclusion from the UN and made three demands.
The 10 signatories demanded that the UN immediately address the exclusion of 23 million Taiwanese from the organization. They also requested the UN to address the fact that Taiwanese citizens and media organizations are unjustly denied the right to access the UN headquarters for sightseeing and attending or covering conferences and events. The signatories further asked the UN to ensure that Taiwan can participate in and contribute to conferences, mechanisms, and activities relating to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) equally and with dignity.
The 10 signatories are Belize, Eswatini, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and Tuvalu. Four other countries—Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Paraguay—made a petition individually. At the general assembly, 12 out of 15 of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies voiced support for Taiwan’s admission to the UN during general the debate.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct10
#Taiwan #UN #Guterres #UN75 #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3mnqutZ
Calls for Taiwan’s admission to the UN from the international community intensify. Following the 75th session of the UN general assembly, 10 of the countries with which Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations submitted a petition to the UN secretary general Antonio Guterres on 10 October in protest of Taiwan’s exclusion from the UN and made three demands.
The 10 signatories demanded that the UN immediately address the exclusion of 23 million Taiwanese from the organization. They also requested the UN to address the fact that Taiwanese citizens and media organizations are unjustly denied the right to access the UN headquarters for sightseeing and attending or covering conferences and events. The signatories further asked the UN to ensure that Taiwan can participate in and contribute to conferences, mechanisms, and activities relating to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) equally and with dignity.
The 10 signatories are Belize, Eswatini, Haiti, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, and Tuvalu. Four other countries—Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Paraguay—made a petition individually. At the general assembly, 12 out of 15 of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies voiced support for Taiwan’s admission to the UN during general the debate.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct10
#Taiwan #UN #Guterres #UN75 #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3mnqutZ