Indonesia and the U.S. Are Building Something in the South China Sea

Indonesia and the United States are building a P170-million "maritime training center" in the Riau Islands, which sits on the edge of the South China Sea bordering Indonesia, according to a report by CNN. 

The two countries have broken ground on the site and promised to stay committed to cooperating with each other. The partnership can be seen as an American pivot to Indonesia, which has taken a tougher stance against China on issues surrounding the South China Sea. 

"As a friend and partner to Indonesia, the United States remains committed to supporting Indonesia's important role in maintaining regional peace and security by fighting domestic and transnational crimes," said Sung Kim, U.S. ambassador to Indonesia. 

According to Kim, the maritime center is only part of an ongoing effort to bolster regional security around the South China Sea. Indonesia is one of the partners of the U.S. for this. The Americans have also stepped up engagement with the Philippines in the months after Biden took office,  with new military hardware expected to arrive for the Philippines.