Indonesia aims to avoid ‘poking China’s eye’ over weapons trade with Philippines, walk ‘political’ tightrope

Military analyst Yokie Rahmad Isjchwansyah said Indonesia has huge potential in marketing its defence industry under Defend ID, the country’s state-owned enterprise company launched in 2022.

Defend ID’s units produce equipment ranging from propellants for munitions, rockets, and weapons to various types of aircraft for military operations and special missions.

The Philippines had previously acquired Indonesia-made weapons such as armoured personnel carriers, CN-235 and NC-212i multipurpose aircraft, and landing platform docks and strategic sealift vessels at sea, Yokie Rahmad said.

Some of these Indonesian weapons were also used by other Southeast Asian countries including Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia, according to Yokie Rahmad.

Given Manila’s status as “a loyal customer” and buyer of several of Indonesia’s defence equipment, it was unsurprising Widodo made the offer to Marcos Jnr, he added.

The AS565 Panther helicopters can also be configured to perform anti-submarine missions, said Yokie Rahmad, who is also a master’s student in international relations at the Paramadina Graduate School of Diplomacy in Jakarta. The French-origin helicopters are produced in Indonesia and other countries.

“The acquisition could strengthen the armed forces of the Philippines, especially the navy,” he said.

In recent months, China and the Philippines have been involved in several confrontations in the South China Sea, with both sides trading accusations of provoking conflict in the disputed waterway, including charges that a Chinese coastguard vessel rammed a ship last month carrying the Philippine armed forces chief of staff.

Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman, a research fellow on regional security at the S. Rajaratnam School of