Diplomacy: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to visit China

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will go to China this week, Beijing announced on Tuesday, the first foreign visit of his mandate, at a time when he intends to strengthen his country’s position internationally.

The former general, aged 73, will make this summer visit from Friday to Sunday, Hua Chunying, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said in a statement.

Prabowo Subianto was sworn in on October 20, promising to continue Jakarta’s traditionally non-aligned foreign policy. He also wants to make the world’s fourth most populous nation more visible on the international stage.

Premier test

His visit to China comes after Indonesia and Russia began their first joint naval exercises on Monday. Beijing and Jakarta are close economic partners who maintain good relations.

However, they are parasitized by a dispute in the South China Sea. Last month, Indonesia turned back a Chinese coast guard vessel from disputed waters three times. Chinese boats sometimes enter areas claimed by Indonesia in the northern Natuna Sea, provoking protests from Jakarta.

For historical reasons, China claims most of the islets and reefs in the South China Sea. The seabed of this sea also contains enormous deposits of untapped oil and gas.

These incidents between Beijing and Jakarka constitute a first test for Prabowo Subianto, who is committed to strengthening the country’s defense. In 2020, Indonesia deployed fighter jets and warships to patrol off the Natuna Islands after Chinese ships entered the area.

Brazil and United States

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP on Prabowo Subianto’s visit to China. For his first visits abroad since coming to power, Prabowo Subianto will also go to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summits in Peru and the G20 in Brazil, Jakarta said.

He is also due to go to the United States and the United Kingdom, the Kompas newspaper reported last month, citing presidential palace sources. After his electoral victory in February, Prabowo Subianto took advantage of the eight-month transition period at the head of Indonesia to visit around ten countries, including China. He intends to pursue a more active foreign policy than that of his predecessor, Joko Widodo, who focused more on domestic issues and in particular on the economy.

Jakarta has long favored a neutral foreign policy, refusing to take a clear side in the war between Russia and Ukraine or to choose between China and the United States, two rival great powers. But new President Prabowo Subianto has called for stronger ties with Moscow despite Western pressure.

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