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Race for Indo-Pacific: Implications for us
What are the potential implications of this Indo-Pacific race and where is Indonesia in all of it?
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High flyers: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fly kites at the National Monument in Jakarta on Wednesday. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
H
istorian Alfred Thayer Mahan once stated that “Whoever controls the Indian Ocean dominates Asia”. As if following Mahan’s dictum to the letter, the two emerging powers — China and India — have sought to increase their spheres of influence by acquiring strategic facilities and locations in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Indo-Pacific region is a relatively new term generally used to describe countries and geographical features located along the rim of the Indian Ocean all the way to the Pacific Ocean. In a way, the “Indo-Pacific” encompasses the majority of maritime Asia — including Indonesia, India, China, Japan and Australia.
What are the potential implications of this Indo-Pacific race and where is Indonesia in all of it?
Guided by its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has been acquiring strategic ports in the Indian Ocean region.
