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.
World leaders are preparing themselves for a second Donald Trump presidency. Some leaders know more or less where he stands: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy knows that a difficult negotiation process is about to be forced on his country, and the leaders of NATO countries would be well aware of being complacent about US military support with Trump in power. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would likely be feeling relief as the constraints placed on him by the US President Joe Biden administration would finally be released. However, for President William Lai (賴清德) the calculation is not simple. Trump has surrounded himself
US president-elect Donald Trump is to return to the White House in January, but his second term would surely be different from the first. His Cabinet would not include former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and former US national security adviser John Bolton, both outspoken supporters of Taiwan. Trump is expected to implement a transactionalist approach to Taiwan, including measures such as demanding that Taiwan pay a high “protection fee” or requiring that Taiwan’s military spending amount to at least 10 percent of its GDP. However, if the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) invades Taiwan, it is doubtful that Trump would dispatch
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) has been dubbed Taiwan’s “sacred mountain.” In the past few years, it has invested in the construction of fabs in the US, Japan and Europe, and has long been a world-leading super enterprise — a source of pride for Taiwanese. However, many erroneous news reports, some part of cognitive warfare campaigns, have appeared online, intentionally spreading the false idea that TSMC is not really a Taiwanese company. It is true that TSMC depositary receipts can be purchased on the US securities market, and the proportion of foreign investment in the company is high. However, this reflects the
US president-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named US Representative Mike Waltz, a vocal supporter of arms sales to Taiwan who has called China an “existential threat,” as his national security advisor, and on Thursday named US Senator Marco Rubio, founding member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China — a global, cross-party alliance to address the challenges that China poses to the rules-based order — as his secretary of state. Trump’s appointments, including US Representative Elise Stefanik as US ambassador to the UN, who has been a strong supporter of Taiwan in the US Congress, and Robert Lighthizer as US trade
RSS