Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto recently visited China to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, pledging to continue his country’s friendly policy towards China. Subianto emphasized the strong ties between Indonesia and China, stating that China is Indonesia’s “strong cooperative partner.” This visit comes at a time when tensions are rising in the South China Sea, and Subianto’s decision to visit China first after his election victory is seen as a symbol of the countries’ robust relationship. He plans to also visit Japan to show that Indonesia will continue to pursue a middle road between China and the United States’ allies in the region.
During his visit, Subianto expressed his willingness to continue the friendly policy towards Beijing established by his predecessor, Joko Widodo. He highlighted the importance of promoting cooperation between the two countries in various fields such as the economy, trade, and poverty alleviation. China has been Indonesia’s largest trading partner in recent years, with significant investments in infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and the Cirata floating solar power project. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of building strong ties with Indonesia and referred to the Jakarta-Bandung railway as a “golden” example of cooperation between the two nations.
Indonesia has maintained a relatively neutral stance amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines has recently strengthened security ties with the United States, which has raised concerns about a potential conflict between China and the U.S. over their respective allies in the region. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei all have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, with Beijing refusing to recognize a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated its expansive claims based on historical grounds.
Subianto’s visit to China highlights Indonesia’s efforts to navigate between competing interests in the region, seeking to maintain friendly relations with China while also engaging with other regional powers such as Japan. By continuing the friendly policy towards Beijing, Subianto aims to promote cooperation and strengthen ties between Indonesia and China in various areas. The visit comes as tensions in the South China Sea remain high, with ongoing disputes between multiple countries over territorial claims. Indonesia’s approach of maintaining neutrality and pursuing partnerships with multiple countries reflects its efforts to balance between major powers in the region.
