Say No to Maritime Silk Road China: Indonesian leader
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Sultan of the Yogyakarta Sultanate in Indonesia Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X asked President Joko Widodo to reject the Chinese government bid to link the World Maritime Axis (Indonesia) with the Maritime Silk Road (China), reports Antara News.
Chinese offer for cooperation in the Maritime Silk Road framework could make the Indonesian nation become consumers of their products, he said.
"Maritime Silk Road from China is the logistics of the country's path to another country, therefore if their bid is accepted, then it would make Indonesia into China's consumer products forever," said Sri Sultan.
Yogyakarta said that the Indonesian Archipelago Sea Lanes (ALKI) had so far always been the target of China, Australia and Singapore.
If Indonesia closes the ALKI to strengthen domestic logistic routes to support the World Maritime Axis program the three countries trade with the Asia Pacific region would be blocked and therefore they are offering cooperation, Sri Sultan added.