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Indonesia pledges ‘balanced’ ties between US and China, signalling careful neutrality
This impartial stance could set Jakarta up to be a good mediator between Beijing and Washington, observers say
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Indonesia has pledged to maintain “balanced and constructive” ties with both China and the United States following high-level defence and foreign policy talks in Beijing – a calculated signal of non-alignment which preserves Jakarta’s strategic flexibility while reinforcing its role as a regional power broker, according to analysts.
China and Indonesia concluded their first 2+2 dialogue between foreign and defence ministers in Beijing on Monday. The talks were also held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.
While this was Beijing’s first 2+2 meeting with Indonesia, Jakarta has held similar dialogues with partner countries such as France, Japan and Australia in the past.
“Indonesia’s selection represents the strengthening of Jakarta’s diplomatic bargaining position bilaterally, regionally, and in the context of China’s strategic competition with the US,” Nur Rachmat Yuliantoro, an international-relations professor at the University of Gadjah Mada, told This Week in Asia.
The new mechanism could be a “good communication channel” between Jakarta and Beijing, especially during “certain contingencies” in the region, said Waffaa Kharisma, an international relations researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies Indonesia.
“The US should approach Indonesia as a channel to talk to the Chinese. [The 2+2 dialogue] can also be leveraged by Indonesia, who can play a communicator role [between Washington and Beijing],” Waffaa said.
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