According to an Associated Press report on May 24, during the welcoming ceremony for the Chinese high-level delegation in Jakarta, Indonesian President Prabowo mentioned in his public speech that Indonesia and China should not limit their cooperation to the economic aspect alone, particularly emphasizing the need to strengthen their cooperation in military and defense fields.
This unprecedented statement brings to mind a recent event where Indonesia's parliament rejected the Rafale fighter jet procurement agreement signed by the previous government with France. The $8.1 billion contract to purchase 42 Rafale jets was canceled. Combined with the president's current remarks, there is now a certain possibility for China's J-10CE + PL-15E combination to enter Indonesia.
The J-10CE, priced at $70 million each and its performance in the India-Pakistan battlefields, has rendered Rafale as a mere background player.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833106075629568/
Disclaimer: This article only represents the author's personal views.