The collaboration between Indonesia and Taiwan has persisted for a long time, yielding numerous benefits for both parties. Taiwan is a strategic ally that offers advantageous prospects for Indonesia.
The collaboration between the two countries is founded on strategic values that extend beyond pragmatic political concerns. The cooperative framework established by Taiwan and Indonesia emphasizes strategic values that enhance their respective national positions and existence. Indonesia has consistently regarded other nations, particularly Taiwan, as allies. That notion is a fundamental aspect of Indonesia’s international relations, which is consistently stressed by Indonesian presidents, from Sukarno to Joko Widodo and now Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo has substantial experience and expertise in international politics. His international political principles are distinctly reflected in his political speeches, narratives, arguments, attitudes and actions, indicating that he regards other nations as strategic partners in advocating for nationalism, justice and humanity in pursuit of global peace, as outlined in the constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.
What would the future relationship be between Taiwan and Indonesia? Based on Prabowo’s foreign political practices, it is evident that the two nations’ connection would strengthen. Taiwan is given opportunities and access in Indonesia to cultivate connections across all sectors, particularly in education.
Taiwan has educational initiatives in Indonesia, such as the Ministry of Education Scholarship, Huayu Enrichment Scholarship and the International Industrial Talents Education Special Program. Meanwhile, Indonesians have a significant interest in pursuing their education in Taiwan, as evidenced by the annual increase in the number of Indonesian students: 5,074 in 2016, a sharp rise to 13,804 in 2020, followed by 16,639 in 2022 and 16,725 last year.
The economic and trade sectors also show a robust cooperative partnership between Taiwan and Indonesia. Taiwan is a significant strategic investor in Indonesia, with cumulative investments amounting to US$15.3 billion and generating about 1 million jobs. That investment was not a sudden, isolated action; it was a protracted process characterized by communication and positive relations that culminated in a mutually advantageous agreement between the two parties from a political economy perspective.
That data illustrate Taiwan’s effective diplomacy in Indonesia and indicate that the relationship between the two is strengthening, suggesting a future of even more robust relations. Prabowo is often perceived as regarding Taiwan as part of “one China,” indicating that he does not politically acknowledge Taiwan as a sovereign nation. However, this does not imply that he disregards Taiwan’s status as a strategic partner for Indonesia. The collaboration between the two nations demonstrates a positive connection that creates the potential to enhance their status as global powers, which would undoubtedly impact international politics favorably.
The Indonesian government provides Taiwan with access and chances to engage in activities across different vital sectors, potentially bolstering its presence in Indonesia. Many Indonesians hold bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Taiwanese universities, directly and indirectly enhancing the nation’s stature and recognition in international politics. Taiwan has also executed investments that favorably influence the interests of both countries. This indicates that the prospects for collaboration between Taiwan and Indonesia would become more robust and enduring.
Salahudin is a political analyst and director of the Bureau of Research, Service, and Cooperation at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang in Indonesia.
Concerns that the US might abandon Taiwan are often overstated. While US President Donald Trump’s handling of Ukraine raised unease in Taiwan, it is crucial to recognize that Taiwan is not Ukraine. Under Trump, the US views Ukraine largely as a European problem, whereas the Indo-Pacific region remains its primary geopolitical focus. Taipei holds immense strategic value for Washington and is unlikely to be treated as a bargaining chip in US-China relations. Trump’s vision of “making America great again” would be directly undermined by any move to abandon Taiwan. Despite the rhetoric of “America First,” the Trump administration understands the necessity of
US President Donald Trump’s challenge to domestic American economic-political priorities, and abroad to the global balance of power, are not a threat to the security of Taiwan. Trump’s success can go far to contain the real threat — the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) surge to hegemony — while offering expanded defensive opportunities for Taiwan. In a stunning affirmation of the CCP policy of “forceful reunification,” an obscene euphemism for the invasion of Taiwan and the destruction of its democracy, on March 13, 2024, the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) used Chinese social media platforms to show the first-time linkage of three new
If you had a vision of the future where China did not dominate the global car industry, you can kiss those dreams goodbye. That is because US President Donald Trump’s promised 25 percent tariff on auto imports takes an ax to the only bits of the emerging electric vehicle (EV) supply chain that are not already dominated by Beijing. The biggest losers when the levies take effect this week would be Japan and South Korea. They account for one-third of the cars imported into the US, and as much as two-thirds of those imported from outside North America. (Mexico and Canada, while
The military is conducting its annual Han Kuang exercises in phases. The minister of national defense recently said that this year’s scenarios would simulate defending the nation against possible actions the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) might take in an invasion of Taiwan, making the threat of a speculated Chinese invasion in 2027 a heated agenda item again. That year, also referred to as the “Davidson window,” is named after then-US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Philip Davidson, who in 2021 warned that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) had instructed the PLA to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. Xi in 2017
RSS