Since its inception in 2016, the government’s New Southbound Policy was a fundamental component of former president Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) initiatives to diversify Taiwan’s global interactions. The policy is frequently viewed through economic partnerships, trade diversification and interpersonal relations, but it can also be analyzed from an ontological security perspective, underscoring the significance of a state preserving its identity and existence internationally.
From an ontological security perspective, the policy seeks to enhance Taiwan’s economic links while also addressing the nation’s work to affirm its existence in the face of geopolitical challenges. The favorable reaction from Southeast Asian nations, particularly Indonesia, demonstrates the efficacy of the policy.
Ontological security pertains to a state’s necessity to preserve its identity and self-sufficiency despite adversities. The existential danger from China and the constraints of the “one China policy” have significantly influenced Taiwan’s foreign policy stance. Due to restricted access to international organizations and formal diplomatic connections, Taiwan must employ innovative strategies to assert its identity and attain recognition. The southbound policy serves as one such mechanism.
By establishing a significant and reciprocal connection with Indonesia, Taiwan surpasses the limits of formal diplomacy. Taipei fortifies its links through trade, education, health and cultural exchanges, affirming its identity and status as a contemporary, democratic and accountable global participant.
Among the southbound target nations, Indonesia distinguishes itself with its favorable reaction to the strategy. As Southeast Asia’s largest economy and a significant actor in the Indo-Pacific region, Indonesia demonstrates symbolic and practical significance in its receptiveness to Taiwan’s proposal.
The burgeoning Taiwan-Indonesia trade relationship is evidenced by bilateral trade, which is expected to exceed US$10 billion by this year. Taiwan’s involvement in Indonesia’s manufacturing and technology sectors underscores its significance as a vital economic partner.
Moreover, collaboration on energy transition initiatives, including renewable energy generation, demonstrates Taiwan’s dedication to collective regional objectives.
Indonesia’s favorable response to education and culture is evidenced by the hundreds of Indonesian students who have obtained educational scholarships from Taiwan through the southbound framework. That, in turn, augments human resource capacity and fosters enduring positive interactions between the two societies.
The favorable response to the policy in Indonesia demonstrates how it has been a vehicle for Taiwan to establish its footprint. Although without official diplomatic connections, the robust and pragmatic association established through the framework gives Taiwan a sense of presence and acknowledgment in the international arena.
The policy illustrates Taiwan’s capacity to sustain significant global interactions despite diplomatic coercion from China. The favorable response from Indonesia affirms that Taiwan’s role as a responsible and capable entity is acknowledged and valued despite the absence of official recognition.
The policy transcends mere economic or diplomatic initiative. It is a strategic initiative to enhance Taiwan’s ontological security. By focusing on mutual benefits and shared values, Taiwan can uphold its pursuit of ontological security and reinforce its position as an essential and esteemed partner in Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region.
Hafid Adim Pradana is head of laboratory in the Department of International Relations 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
In an article published on this page on Tuesday, Kaohsiung-based journalist Julien Oeuillet wrote that “legions of people worldwide would care if a disaster occurred in South Korea or Japan, but the same people would not bat an eyelid if Taiwan disappeared.” That is quite a statement. We are constantly reading about the importance of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), hailed in Taiwan as the nation’s “silicon shield” protecting it from hostile foreign forces such as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and so crucial to the global supply chain for semiconductors that its loss would cost the global economy US$1
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
Sasha B. Chhabra’s column (“Michelle Yeoh should no longer be welcome,” March 26, page 8) lamented an Instagram post by renowned actress Michelle Yeoh (楊紫瓊) about her recent visit to “Taipei, China.” It is Chhabra’s opinion that, in response to parroting Beijing’s propaganda about the status of Taiwan, Yeoh should be banned from entering this nation and her films cut off from funding by government-backed agencies, as well as disqualified from competing in the Golden Horse Awards. She and other celebrities, he wrote, must be made to understand “that there are consequences for their actions if they become political pawns of