"The plan is now still being discussed to manufacture C-705 missiles that have a shooting range of up to 140 kilometers," Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia plans to build a plant to produce C-705 missiles as a follow-up to the cooperation agreement with China made some time ago, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.
"The plan is now still being discussed to manufacture C-705 missiles that have a shooting range of up to 140 kilometers," he said here on Tuesday.
He said the cooperation would help strengthen Indonesia`s defense and give a financial income for the country.
He said the missiles would later be stationed in border regions to protect the country`s territorial integrity.
Asked about rivalry between China and the US in South China Sea and main defense system equipment, Purnomo said Indonesia follows an active and independent policy and would not rely upon one country or certain interests so that the plan would not affect its relations with the two countries.
Minister Purnomo, along with several officials visited China on February 19-21 at the invitation of Chinese defense minister General Liang Guanglie.
During the visit to that country, he took an opportunity to visit two defense industries linked to missile production.
He said he would accelerate production of defense system equipment at home. "If we still cannot do it by ourselves we will conduct joint production or transfer of technology," he said adding that kind of cooperation was now being discussed with China.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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