The Indonesian president declined an offer to allow the US Navy's P-8 Poseidon spy plane to land and provide supplies, according to the country's officials.

Four Indonesian officials said today that US officials repeatedly made proposals at the "high level" in July and August with the Minister of Defense and the Indonesian Foreign Minister to stop the P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance.

Representatives from the Indonesian President and Defense Minister, the US State Department's press office and the US Embassy in Jakarta did not respond to requests for comment.

Officials say the US side's proposal to allow the P-8 Poseidon to land has surprised the Indonesian government, as Jakarta has long pursued a neutral foreign policy.

The P-8 reconnaissance plane plays a key role in the US navy's effort to monitor Chinese military activities in the South China Sea, where Beijing blatantly claims illegally over much of the region.

Foreign Minister Retno has stated that Indonesia does not want to take sides in the US-China competition and is worried about the growing tensions between the two superpowers, as well as the militarization of the South China Sea, in the context of investment relations.

"We don't want to get caught in this competition," Retno said in an interview in September. "Indonesia wants to show everyone that we are ready to be your partners."

Greg Poling, Southeast Asia specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) based in Washington, said that the proposal to scout the P-8 landing in Indonesia showed foreign policy.