US, Indonesia Building Maritime Training Center at Edge of South China Sea
Indonesia and the United States are building a new maritime training center at the strategic meeting point of the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea in a move to counter China’s increasing aggression in the region. The $3.5 million center began construction on Indonesia’s island of Batam, at the southern entrance to the strategic […]
Indonesia and the United States are building a new maritime training center at the strategic meeting point of the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea in a move to counter China’s increasing aggression in the region. The $3.5 million center began construction on Indonesia’s island of Batam, at the southern entrance to the strategic Straits of Malacca, which is a crucial chokepoint for global maritime trade, connecting the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. China doesn’t have access points to the Indian Ocean. A representative of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, Bakamla, said that the maritime center will be run by Bakamla and consists of classrooms, barracks, and a helicopter launch pad. At a ceremony on June 25, the U.S. ambassador to Indonesia Sung Kim said the center would be part of ongoing efforts between the two countries to strengthen security in the region. He said, "As a friend and ...
