Opinion | Indonesian President-elect is visiting Beijing – to forge deeper cooperation
By Augustus K. Yeung
All eyes are on Prabowo Subianto, the Indonesian president-elect – who will lead Southeast Asia's biggest economy in the next five years. The current defense minister – son-in-law of autocratic former President Suharto, hand-picked by the C.I.A. to topple his superior President Sukarno – is now in Beijing, being invited by President Xi Jinping – before he becomes president.
This is rarely the norm. But this is of minor importance compared with the total potential power and authority this man and his partner carry: Prabowo Subianto, the defense minister and Vice-president-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of incumbent President Joko Widodo, were leading the race.
In this race, there are over 204 million registered voters – over 50% percent of whom are under the age of 40, scattered across the vast archipelago that covers three time zones.
Note: Poll workers had started counting the votes and reported the results to the General Elections Commission. The head of the election committee of Merauke in South Papua Province said that balloting in the whole province had gone smoothly.
"In Merauke, [Chinese-built?] roads are so good, much better than a decade ago. Area's transportation links to other parts of the island have developed so well," officials said.
In Kupang, the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara, voters went to the polling stations despite the rain in the morning. Amatus Bhela, an educator and social activist, said Subianto and Raka are popular – among local voters, because the duo promised to continue Widodo's programs, including social assistance programs.
"In Kupang and most parts of East Nusa Tenggara, people want that assistance. They see Prabowo-Gibran and they remember Jokowi (President Widodo)," Bhela said.
Lucius Karus, a senior researcher at Jakarta-based Parliament Watch, said most voters are keen on the election of a president and vice-president than that of local lawmakers – because most voters believe national officials deliver more concrete programs. (Source: China Daily)
The winners' team promises long-term stability – as the voters see this new team as a continuation of the administration of President Widodo.
Wisely, Xi Jinping seized this early sign of stability and timely invited Prabowo to Beijing – long before he was officially sworn in as Indonesia's next president.
China is willing to deepen cooperation with Indonesia, calling for the two countries to push for an "equal" multipolar world – and protect the interests of developing economies, President Xi Jinping said on Monday, April 2.
In a meeting with Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto in Beijing, Xi said China viewed its relations with Indonesia from a "strategic and long-term perspective".
"China is willing to work with Indonesia to run the historic relay race well, continue to deepen all-round strategic cooperation, and build a China-Indonesia community – with a shared future with regional and global influence," Xi said, according to CCTV.
Xi, who described China and Indonesia as "major developing countries", said the two nations should pioneer South-South cooperation and create a model of mutual respect and common development.
In a world that was rapidly changing, Xi said both sides should "actively promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization", boost multilateral cooperation, and safeguard the interests of developing countries.
According to observers, China has in recent years sought to portray itself as a leader of developing countries and the so-called Global South, calling for greater inclusion of emerging economies on the world stage.
Xi told Prabowo that China was willing to maintain close exchanges with Indonesia, promote their comprehensive economic corridor projects, and continue strengthening maritime cooperation.
Prabowo, the current defense minister, is in China on a three-day visit – his first overseas trip since winning the presidential race two months ago. He is expected to be inaugurated in October.
The 72-year-old former general was visiting China at Xi's invitation – and at a time when Beijing and Washington are seeking to expand their influence in the region and as tensions mount in the South China Sea.
According to the CCTV report, Prabowo called China a "major country with important influence" and a "strong cooperative partner" of Indonesia.
He told Xi that he supported the development of closer relations – and was willing to continue outgoing leader Joko Widodo's "friendly policy" towards China.
He said the new Indonesian government was ready to promote cooperation with China in fields including the economy and trade, and to strengthen coordination on international and regional affairs.
Note: Relations deepened significantly under Widodo's leadership, with China being Indonesia's largest trading partner and second-largest foreign investor.
Prabowo is set to hold talks with Premier Li Qiang and Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday, April 3. (Source: SCMP)
Did Xi Jinping and his cabinet members learn a lesson from the Philippines – which caved into the dictates of the United States, and is now contravening former President Duterte's pro-China policy?
Maybe or maybe not. What matters most is to prevent the worst from happening, and hope for the best. Prabowo chooses China to be his first official visit abroad unmistakably shows the paramount importance he attaches to China-Indonesia relations, according to diplomatic sources quoted by Macau Daily, the most influential Chinese-language newspaper in Macau. And China thinks likewise.
President Joko visited China twice in four months this year…China's ambassador to Indonesia also visited the president-elect at his home in South Jakarta, where they both wished each other Kung Hei Fat Choy – in Chinese. Prabowo even posted his picture with his pet cat, with the inscription, "My meow also accompanied me in greeting the Chinese ambassador in his visit."
In addition, Xi Jinping sent his greetings congratulating Prabowo on his election success, writing, "China-Indonesia relations have by now embarked on an expressway, leading the two nations' destiny on a-community-of-mutual-interests forward!"
Socially and economically, China is historically and deeply involved in Indonesian society, especially in the last 10 years when the popular Joko Widodo took the helm. Analysts expect that China's influence looms equally large to Prabowo, despite the general's controversial past.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.
To contact the writer, please direct email: AugustusKYeung@ymail.com
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