The discovery of a Chinese underwater drone in Indonesian waters signals a need for Jakarta to bolster its undersea defense. Analysts predict Indonesia will address the issue through quiet diplomacy rather than public confrontation.

The recent discovery of a Chinese underwater drone in Indonesia’s waters serves as a wake-up call for Jakarta to strengthen its undersea defence capabilities, analysts have said. Indonesia, however, is likely to remain silent on the find and resolve the issue through “quiet diplomacy”, according to observers. Last week, an Indonesian fisherman found a Chinese unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) in the Lombok Strait, a key waterway leading to Australia. Marked with the letters “CSIC”, the drone is....