Indonesia's lower house speaker told Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday that his country is considering procuring US-2 amphibious aircraft from Japan, signaling Jakarta's desire to promote cooperation with Tokyo over defense equipment as Beijing advances into the South China Sea.
In a meeting with Abe in Tokyo, Setya Novanto, speaker of the House of Representatives, said Indonesia "has an interest in and is considering procuring Japanese U.S.-2 aircraft," which can be used in maritime rescue operations, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
Japan is also in talks with India for the possible sale of the aircraft.