He said American allies and partners in the Pacific had been wary of China’s increasing dominance.
“Allies are looking at China and the situations with China in Asia, and thinking they need to increase their capabilities,” Hursch said, giving the example that some countries wanted to replace their howitzers with the more expensive and powerful High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) systems that have been used in Ukraine.
Another significant deal is the US$1.1 billion arms package for Taiwan announced by Washington in September, which included 60 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and 100 Sidewinder tactical air missiles.
The deals were seen by defence analysts as parts of the Pentagon’s strategy of integrated deterrence to counter Beijing’s military ambitions in the region, with territorial disputes in the South China Sea and possible conflict in the Taiwan Strait being key concerns.
Lu Li-shih, a former instructor at Taiwan’s Naval Academy in Kaohsiung, said the DSCA aimed to use arms transfers and personal exchanges to create an information-sharing mechanism in the region as part of its efforts to push members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations away from Beijing.
An F-15EX fighter jet. The “F-15ID” in the potential sale is essentially the F-15EX now entering service with the US Air Force. Photo: US Air Force handout
“From the perspective of the second island chain, Indonesia is located on the frontline between the South Pacific islands and Australia,” Lu said, referring to a strategic group of islands that also include the US territory of Guam.
“The cost of moving away from China will increase if Indonesia enhances its defence partnership with the US. Washington is going to turn Jakarta into another powerful pawn among its Asean allies.”
Collin Koh, a research fellow with the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Indonesia had faced “maritime coercion” from China in the North Natuna Sea, an area that includes the Tuna offshore gas field, since December 2021.
Koh said Jakarta’s plans to buy the F-15s, as well as Rafale jets from France and frigates from Italy, are all part of a modernisation plan prompted by the increasing challenge from China over their dispute in the Natuna Sea.
Jakarta abandoned its original plan to buy Russian Sukhoi -35 fighter jets after witnessing their poor performance in Ukraine, Koh said.
The F-15ID is an export version of Boeing F-15EX specifically made for the Indonesian air force, according to Macau-based military observer Antony Wong Tong.
“Today’s F-15ID fighter jets are an upgraded version of F-15E, with its role combining fighter and bomber aircraft and being able to carry a variety of missiles, which will definitely pose a certain threat to the PLA,” Wong said.
