INDONESIA BUILDS BASE IN NATUNAS

Combat force will be headquartered in islands in the middle of South China Sea.

INDONESIA has begun building a military base in the Natunas, an island chain in the South China Sea about midway between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak.

Antara news agency reports that Defence Forces (TNI) chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto yesterday laid the foundation stone for the Marine Combat Force of the First Fleet Command headquarters. The facility will also serve as an integrated marine security command post.

The facility will be part of the Combat Operations Executive Command in western Indonesia.

It is also expected to help strengthen the Integrated TNI Unit in the Natunas in the northernmost area of the Karimata Strait.

“The Natunas area has maritime character, hence the presence of the command headquarters of Marine Combat Force is expected to strengthen the interoperability capability of the TNI’s naval and air forces in the maritime domain,” Hadi said.

The Indonesian military commander was accompanied by Indonesian police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and chief of staff of the Indonesian navy Admiral Yudo Margono at the ceremony.

Hadi lauded the Indonesian Navy for its defence of the Natunas, one of Indonesia’s outermost regions.

The Natunas are an archipelago of 272 islands in the middle of the South China Sea.

Administratively, it is a district placed under Riau Islands Province.

Hadi said the Natunas were in a strategic location, and were crucial for the TNI to map the strength of the Indonesian defence forces.