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Indonesia show of force in South China Sea, deploys F-16 fighter jets to protect Natuna Islands

F-16 fighter jets will deploy to Natuna islands in the South China Sea, Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu told Bloomberg Thursday. The moves comes after Chinese coast guard clash with Indonesian authorities over China's fishing boats seized by Jakarta.Chinese coast guard rammed the boats to force it free from the Indonesian authorities leading to heated confrontation between the two countries.

According to Ryacudu, Indonesian military will, or has already deployed marines, airforce special force units, an army battalion, three frigates, a new radar system and drones, at the Natuna islands, Bloomberg reported.

The planned stationing of five F-16s reflects a new level of Indonesian concern over territorial disputes in the South China Sea that are pitting Beijing against several of its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Indonesia is not a claimant, but the clash with the Chinese coast guard last month over the detention of a Chinese fishing boat showed the potential for it to be drawn into conflict. The country's foreign ministry summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Huikang to register concern over the alleged encroachment of Chinese-flagged boats in the South China Sea, it said late Thursday.

"Natuna is a door, if the door is not guarded then thieves will come inside," said Ryacudu, a former army chief of staff." Indonesian airforce is now dealing with Russia to procure eight to 10 Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets. Also, the government had been considering to purchase Lockheed Martin Corp's F-16V, BAE System Plc's Eurofighter Typhoon or Saab AB's Gripen.

China claims more than 80% of the South China Sea, bringing it into dispute with Philippines,Brunei, Malaysia,Vietnam, and Taiwan.

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