The Republic of China on Thursday last week celebrated its 113th anniversary with events held domestically and internationally, including in Indonesia. Over the past 113 years, Taiwan has developed into a respected economic and technological power.
However, the nation’s position in global geopolitics, especially regarding its relationship with the People’s Republic of China, remains a sensitive topic. Taiwan’s ties with Southeast Asian countries, particularly Indonesia, have strengthened in the past few decades despite a lack of official diplomatic recognition.
Indonesia does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state, because it adheres to a “one China” policy. Nevertheless, informal relations between Taiwan and Indonesia have long been close, especially in the economic sector.
Taiwan is one of Indonesia’s important trading partners, and its investment in different industrial sectors in Indonesia has been significant. Over at least the past eight years, Taiwan has promoted its New Southbound Policy.
Representative to Indonesia John Chen (陳忠) revealed at the “113th National Day Reception of the Republic of China (Taiwan)” in Jakarta that Taiwan’s total investment in Indonesia ranks among the top five foreign investments in the country, having created approximately 1 million jobs for Indonesians.
Bilateral trade between Indonesia and Taiwan reached more than US$10 billion last year. That shows that despite diplomatic limitations, the economic relationship between the two countries continues to grow rapidly.
Furthermore, Chen mentioned that Taiwan’s future investments would focus on regional cooperation with the Digital New Southbound Policy, integrating Taiwanese businesses to deepen technological relations with Southeast Asian countries.
On the other hand, Indonesia is the largest source of migrant workers in Taiwan and the second-largest source of foreign students in Taiwan. Data from the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta showed that about 400,000 Indonesians live, work and study in Taiwan. This is largely due to the numerous education scholarships offered by the Taiwanese government, making it an attractive destination for Indonesian students.
However, despite the close ties between Taiwan and Indonesia, perceptions of Taiwan among the Indonesian public remain mixed. One of the key factors is media and educational exposure concerning Taiwan’s geopolitical position. Most Indonesians might only understand Taiwan within the context of its political rivalry with China.
For some Indonesians, especially those working in Taiwan or who have family members working there, the country is often viewed as a land of opportunity. It offers relatively high wages and better working conditions than other East Asian countries.
Meanwhile, among Indonesian academics, Taiwan is seen as an innovative country capable of competing on the global stage. Known for its advanced industries in semiconductors, information technology and green energy, Taiwan has inspired many young Indonesian entrepreneurs and professionals.
As such, Indonesia’s decision to continue adhering to the “one China” policy creates ambiguity. For Indonesia, maintaining a balance between its relations with China and Taiwan is challenging.
Indonesia seeks to maintain good relations with China, one of its largest trading partners and sources of foreign direct investment. At the same time, it also recognizes the importance ties with Taiwan. Therefore, Indonesia tends to tread carefully to avoid getting caught up in the conflict between them.
In this context, the relationship between Taiwan and Indonesia is expected to continue growing, particularly in the areas of economy and education. On the other hand, Taiwan also needs to enhance its public diplomacy campaign in Indonesia.
Increasing cultural exchanges, expanding scholarship programs and strengthening educational cooperation could be effective steps to improve Taiwan’s image and understanding among Indonesians.
At its 113th anniversary, Taiwan can serve as an example to Indonesia of how a small country can survive and thrive amid global pressures. For Indonesia, its relationship with Taiwan reflects pragmatism and shared interests.
This year marks an important milestone for the deepening ties between Taiwan and Indonesia. This year Taiwan held its eighth direct presidential election, laying the foundation for democracy. Meanwhile, Indonesia has also peacefully and stably elected its new president, who is to be inaugurated on Sunday. Therefore, the new administrations of the countries are expected to strengthen cooperation and relations for mutual progress.
Najamuddin Khairur Rijal is a lecturer in the International Relations Department of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang in Indonesia.
Trying to force a partnership between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) and Intel Corp would be a wildly complex ordeal. Already, the reported request from the Trump administration for TSMC to take a controlling stake in Intel’s US factories is facing valid questions about feasibility from all sides. Washington would likely not support a foreign company operating Intel’s domestic factories, Reuters reported — just look at how that is going over in the steel sector. Meanwhile, many in Taiwan are concerned about the company being forced to transfer its bleeding-edge tech capabilities and give up its strategic advantage. This is especially
US President Donald Trump’s second administration has gotten off to a fast start with a blizzard of initiatives focused on domestic commitments made during his campaign. His tariff-based approach to re-ordering global trade in a manner more favorable to the United States appears to be in its infancy, but the significant scale and scope are undeniable. That said, while China looms largest on the list of national security challenges, to date we have heard little from the administration, bar the 10 percent tariffs directed at China, on specific priorities vis-a-vis China. The Congressional hearings for President Trump’s cabinet have, so far,
For years, the use of insecure smart home appliances and other Internet-connected devices has resulted in personal data leaks. Many smart devices require users’ location, contact details or access to cameras and microphones to set up, which expose people’s personal information, but are unnecessary to use the product. As a result, data breaches and security incidents continue to emerge worldwide through smartphone apps, smart speakers, TVs, air fryers and robot vacuums. Last week, another major data breach was added to the list: Mars Hydro, a Chinese company that makes Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as LED grow lights and the
The US Department of State has removed the phrase “we do not support Taiwan independence” in its updated Taiwan-US relations fact sheet, which instead iterates that “we expect cross-strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means, free from coercion, in a manner acceptable to the people on both sides of the Strait.” This shows a tougher stance rejecting China’s false claims of sovereignty over Taiwan. Since switching formal diplomatic recognition from the Republic of China to the People’s Republic of China in 1979, the US government has continually indicated that it “does not support Taiwan independence.” The phrase was removed in 2022
RSS