Civil-Military Relations in Strengthening the State Defense in Indonesia’s Border Areas

Author : Yusa Djuyandi

Abstract :The potential for military threats to the Natuna region is growing in line with the increasingly heated political situation in the South China Sea region. Meanwhile, the potential for non-military threats in Natuna arises from illegal fishing activities carried out by foreign fishermen, which threaten the resources and activities of local fishermen. Referring to the Universal People’s Defense System (Sishanrata), the implementation of national defense, apart from relying on the military as the primary defense force, also encourages active participation and support from civilian elements. Based on this, this study will examine civil-military relations in strengthening national defense in Indonesia’s border areas, where national defense to protect the Natuna region as the outermost area of the state border is carried out by combining military and non-military defense systems. The research shows that the Indonesian National Army (TNI), as the primary defense force, synergizes with civilian elements in Natuna, both of society and the government bureaucracy, to create a defense system that aligns with the Sishanrata doctrine. Not only military threats but non-military threats must also be a common concern. Currently, threats in border areas such as Natuna are no longer only militaristic, but also extend to other segments such as the economy. The development in the Natuna region tends to focus on developing defense facilities. To maintain the stability of civil and military relations, it is also necessary to develop public and special facilities for the local community

Keywords :Civil-military relations, natuna, border, TNI, defense, south china sea.

Conference Name :International Conference on Contemporary Asian Studies (ICCAS-25)

Conference Place Tokyo, Japan

Conference Date 28th Oct 2025