Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto visited Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, pledging to continue Indonesia’s friendly policy toward China. Subianto highlighted the countries’ strong ties amid tensions in the South China Sea, choosing Beijing for his first official visit after his election victory in February. He is set to continue pursuing a middle road between Beijing and the United States’ allies in the region, such as Japan and the Philippines. Subianto intends to promote cooperation in various fields, including the economy, trade, and poverty alleviation, maintaining China as Indonesia’s “strong cooperative partner.”
During his visit, Subianto also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Defense Minister Dong Jun to discuss further cooperation between the two countries. China became Indonesia’s largest trading partner during the incumbent president Joko Widodo’s term, with Beijing investing billions in infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and Cirata, Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar power project. Xi Jinping expressed the desire to deepen ties with Indonesia, citing the Jakarta-Bandung railway as a successful example of their collaboration. China also offered support in poverty reduction efforts and maritime cooperation to Indonesia.
Indonesia has maintained a neutral stance amid escalating tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has strengthened security ties with the United States, contrasting with the China-friendly policy of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. High-seas confrontations between China and the Philippines have raised concerns about a potential conflict that could involve China and the US. The US has reiterated its commitment to defend the Philippines if it comes under armed attack, including in the South China Sea, where multiple countries have overlapping claims.
China and the Philippines, along with Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei, have competing claims in the resource-rich South China Sea. Beijing has disregarded a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated its expansive claims based on historical grounds. The ongoing disputes have fueled fears of a larger conflict in the region, with the US and China on a potential collision course. Despite the tensions, Indonesia under Subianto continues to prioritize its relationship with China while navigating its partnerships with other regional powers. The visit to Japan following his trip to Beijing signifies Indonesia’s commitment to maintaining balanced relations in a complex geopolitical landscape.
