Australia Thursday rejected claims it tried to "recruit" Indonesia's best soldiers as Jakarta moved to tone down a rift after military ties were suspended.
The two neighbors revealed Wednesday military cooperation had been put on ice last month after teaching materials deemed offensive to Indonesia were found at an Australian army base.
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Cooperation including joint exercises and education and exchange programs were halted after a visiting Indonesian officer raised concerns about the materials at the facility in Perth.
Indonesia's military chief General Gatot Nurmantyo told reporters Thursday it involved "unethical stuff" which "discredits Indonesia and its military, even the nation's ideology".
"It's about soldiers in the past, East Timor, Papuan independence and 'Pancasila'," he said, referring to the nation's founding philosophy.
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The ABC also broadcast footage Thursday of Nurmantyo giving a lecture in November, voicing fears Canberra was trying to recruit soldiers sent to Australia for training.
"Every time there is a training program like recently the best five or 10 students would be sent to Australia. That happened before I was chief so I let that happen," he said in translated remarks, according to the broadcaster.
"Once I became chief commander of the national forces, it [the students being sent] did not happen again. They will certainly be recruited."
Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne denied Canberra had targeted Indonesian soldiers to be potential agents.
"No, that is not the case and it is something which we would not countenance of course," she said.
Payne added that an investigation into the teaching materials that sparked the spat was almost complete and the government took the concerns seriously.
"We are working closely with our counterparts both at the military and at the political level to rectify any concerns, to address any concerns and to resume the relationship in its entirety as soon as possible," she said.
'Matter of principle'
Despite military ties being suspended, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said relations with Canberra remained robust.
"I think the relationship between Indonesia and Australia is in good condition, but perhaps on the operational level it still needs to be discussed so things will not heat up," he said.
Asked when the suspension would be lifted, he replied: "Let's clear up the problem first, because it is a problem. Even though it's only at the operational level, this is a matter of principle."
Papua's independence movement enjoys support among activists abroad, including in Australia. Indonesia keeps tight control over the area and is sensitive about any perceived attempts by foreign governments or NGOs to intervene.
Payne underlined Australia's position on West Papua.
"We of course, in accordance with the Lombok Treaty, which is the treaty between Australia and Indonesia, recognize Indonesia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and that is our firm and stated position," she said.
It is the latest tiff between the key allies and neighbours, whose relationship has been beset in recent years by disputes over Jakarta's execution of Australian drug smugglers and Canberra's hardline policy of turning migrant boats back to Indonesia.
There has also been past tension over the role of notorious Indonesian unit Kopassus' part in human rights abuses in East Timor in 1999 as the then-Indonesian territory geared up for independence.
Like Widodo, Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu also appeared to play down the row.
"Our relationship is fine, let's not be reckless," he told reporters.
Agence France Presse