JAKARTA -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis' visit to Indonesia highlights the rising importance of security in the South China Sea to the Donald Trump administration, which is seeking to engage Indonesia and the ASEAN regional grouping to counter China's expanding presence in the region.
Mattis arrived in Jakarta on Monday and met with Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on Tuesday morning, prior to a scheduled meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo later in the day.
