France and Indonesia vow to boost safety in Indo-Pacific as tensions between EU and Beijing persist

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — France and Indonesia 's top diplomats on Wednesday signed an agreement for a maritime security project aiming “to ensure peace and safety” at sea in the Indo-Pacific region.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s visit to Jakarta, his second stop in his four-day Asia tour after Singapore, comes amid ongoing trade tensions between the European Union and Beijing.

He told reporters on Wednesday that the Indo-Pacific Port Security Project "is close to my heart,” promising France's support. Neither he nor his Indonesian counterpart Sugiono shared details of what the project will entail.

Earlier this month, during a discussion of the project at the Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence, Indonesia's naval chief of staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali, said it would address various maritime security challenges, including piracy, terrorism, and illegal activities at sea, and would likely involve collaboration among countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Sugiono, who like many Indonesians uses a single name, said the “maritime collaboration is important to realize a stable, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Barrot said the project will support Indonesia as the world's largest archipelago nation with more than 17,000 islands, with a focus on securing two Indonesian ports, in the cities of Jakarta and Surabaya.

The two diplomats, who signed the agreement at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations headquarters in the Indonesian capital, said they also discussed strengthening their strategic partnerships and enhancing cooperation in various fields.

Military cooperation between France and Indonesia has grown in recent years.

French air force planes made a stopover in July In Jakarta as part of a visit to Southeast Asia that was meant to display France’s commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Last year, Indonesia purchased 42 Rafale and Dassault Aviation fighter jets and is expected to receive the first Rafale jets under the contract in 2026. It also announced the purchase of two French Scorpene Evolved submarines and 13 Thales Ground Control Interception radars. Five of the radar systems are expected to be installed in the country’s future capital, Nusantara, on Borneo island.

Barrot’s visit is also expected to help lay the groundwork for a meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to visit the Southeast Asian country in May.

The French diplomat is set to travel to China, including stops in Beijing and economic hub Shanghai, on Thursday and Friday.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot talks to journalists during a joint press conference with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot listens during a joint press conference with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot talks to journalists during a joint press conference with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, left, talks to journalists as Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono listens during their joint press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono, right, talks to journalists as France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot listens during their joint press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono, left, sits with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, right, during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono, right, shakes hands with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono, right, shakes hands with France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot during their bilateral meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Chamberlain, the handsome hero of the 1960s television series "Dr. Kildare" who found a second career as an award-winning "king of the miniseries," has died. He was 90.

Chamberlain died Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii, of complications following a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.

“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us," Martin Rabbett, his lifelong partner, said in a statement. "How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.”

Tall, with classic good looks and romantic style, Chamberlain became an instant favorite with teenage girls as the compassionate physician on the TV series that aired from 1961 to 1966. Photoplay magazine named him most popular male star for three years in a row, from 1963-65.

Not until 2003 did he acknowledge publicly what Hollywood insiders had long known, that he was gay. He made the revelation in his autobiography, "Shattered Love."

The actor became known as "king of the TV miniseries" in 1978 when he landed the starring role in "Centennial," an epic production 24 hours long and based on James Michener's sprawling novel. He followed that in 1980 with "Shogun," another costly, epic miniseries based on James Clavell's period piece about an American visitor to Japan.

He scored his greatest miniseries success in 1983 with another long-form drama, "The Thorn Birds," based on Colleen McCullough's best-seller. He played Father Ralph de Bricassart, a Roman Catholic priest in Australia who falls in love with beautiful Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward). The ABC production, which also starred Barbara Stanwyck, reportedly attracted 100 million viewers.

Chamberlain won Golden Globes for his work in “Shogun" and “The Thorn Birds.” Years earlier, he received one for “Dr. Kildare.”

When the public began to lose interest in miniseries, Chamberlain turned to the theater, where he displayed a fine singing voice. He appeared as Henry Higgins in a 1994 Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady" and as Captain von Trapp in a 1999 revival of "The Sound of Music."

He reprised his role of de Bricassart in the 1996 TV movie "The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years."

He also appeared in numerous films, including "The Music Lovers" (as Tchaikovsky), "The Madwoman of Chaillot," "The Towering Inferno" and "The Three Musketeers" and its sequels.

The "Kildare" series was based on a string of successful 1930s and '40s films that had starred Lew Ayres in the title role.

Chamberlain's hunky, all-American appearance made him an overnight star. Another medical show that debuted the same season, "Ben Casey," also was a smash and made its leading man, the darkly handsome Vince Edwards, a star, too.

The "Ben Casey shirt" became a fashion item, both shows' theme songs made the pop Top 40 (the Kildare song performed by Chamberlain himself) and there was even a pop song called "Dr. Kildare! Dr. Casey! You Are Wanted for Consultation."

But in his book, Chamberlain recounted how he was forced to hide his sexuality. He would escort glamorous actresses to movie premieres and other public events at the request of studio executives and dodge reporters' questions about why he had never married with a stock reply: "Getting married would be great, but I'm awfully busy now."

"When I grew up, being gay, being a sissy or anything like that was verboten," he said in an NBC interview. "I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself intensely and had to hide it."

The book also described a troubled childhood and an alcoholic father, and Chamberlain said that writing it finally lifted a heavy emotional burden. He also expressed relief that he was no longer hiding his sexuality.

"I played a cat-and-mouse game with the press. Game over," said Chamberlain.

Born George Richard Chamberlain in Beverly Hills on March 31, 1934, the actor originally studied at Pomona College to be a painter. But after returning from the Army, where he had served as an infantry clerk in the Korean War, Chamberlain decided to try acting.

He studied voice and drama, and after appearing in guest roles in a handful of TV shows and in the 1960 film "The Secret of the Purple Reef," he won the Dr. Kildare role.

When “Dr. Kildare” was canceled he initially found it difficult to shake the image of the handsome young physician.

He moved to England for a time to find work and hone his acting skills. While there, he appeared in three of director Richard Lester’s films, “Petulia” (1968), “The Three Musketeers” (1973) and “The Four Musketeers” (1974). He reunited with Lester in 1989 for “The Return of the Musketeers,” once more playing Aramis.

In 1969, Chamberlain played the title role in “Hamlet” at England’s Birmingham Repertory Company and repeated it in a TV adaptation that appeared on NBC in the United States. He also appeared as Octavius in a film version of “Julius Caesar,” which co-starred Charlton Heston and Jason Robards.

He continued to act well into the 21st century, appearing on such television shows as “Will & Grace,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “Touched by an Angel.”

Bob Thomas, a longtime Associated Press journalist who died in 2014, was the principal writer of this obituary.

FILE - Actor Richard Chamberlain waves during a news conference in Berlin, Oct. 10, 1995. (AP Photo/ Jan Bauer, file)

FILE - This June 27, 2012, photo shows actor Richard Chamberlain in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, file)