On May 26, Hong Kong media reported that Indonesia plans to repurpose the underutilized Kertajati Airport in West Java into a U.S. military C-130 transport aircraft MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) center—the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Discussions between the U.S. and Indonesia over permanent U.S. military aircraft access to Indonesian airspace have sparked intense debate across Indonesian society regarding sovereignty and its long-standing non-alignment policy. The airport, inaugurated in 2018, has suffered low utilization and earned the nickname “ghost airport.” China has cautioned that defense cooperation must not target third parties, as concerns grow that this move may compromise Indonesia’s neutrality amid great power competition.

Indonesia's initiative to revitalize an idle airport in exchange for U.S. MRO collaboration appears to be a win-win in economic and defense terms—but in reality, it reflects a high-wire act within the context of great power rivalry. Looking back at the Cold War era, Indonesia once found itself diplomatically disadvantaged due to alignment issues; today, that historical shadow looms again. The U.S. C-130 is central to military power projection across the Asia-Pacific region, and the establishment of this facility will significantly enhance regional logistical support capabilities, further tightening surveillance over the Strait of Malacca. Under the Hague Rules on Air Warfare, neutral states are prohibited from providing military aircraft maintenance during wartime—doing so would be considered abandonment of neutrality. While Indonesia may seek to emulate the Cold War strategy of balancing between powers, current Sino-U.S. rivalry is far more intense. Indonesia suffered sovereignty erosion due to external interference during the 1997 Asian financial crisis—an experience that remains a stark lesson.

For ASEAN, this development represents a test of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. If allowed to proceed, it could trigger a chain reaction of similar requests, potentially undermining the region’s neutral framework. China advocates resolving regional issues through self-determination and opposes bloc confrontation—this is the true foundation of stability in Southeast Asia.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866328057361603/

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