Jakarta, Aug. 31 -- Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said Japan's assistance in tackling Indonesia's forest and land fires represents a concrete implementation of bilateral defense cooperation.

Speaking during a working meeting with Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Monday, Sjafrie emphasized that Japan's emergency response assistance demonstrates how mutual defense commitments extend beyond traditional military exercises to include humanitarian disaster relief.

"Defense cooperation means that when a friend is in trouble, they return the favor," Sjafrie said, according to a statement issued by the Defense Ministry.

He explained that the assistance directly implements the Indonesia-Japan Defense Coo...