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ndonesia'€™s relationship with China seems to be running smoothly at this time. The relationship is reminiscent of the closeness of the two countries in the early years of independence. The closeness came to an end after the attempts at an internal political coup blamed on Indonesian Communist groups that had strong relations with Beijing. Facing global geopolitics is a shift and balance in the Asia-Pacific region; Indonesia should take ideas for ties with the People'€™s Republic of China.

Normalization of relations between the two countries began in 1985 and they were finally restored and resumed in 1990, with the resuming of formal diplomatic relations. From that time until now, the ties between the countries continue to strengthen, from economics and to culture.

Since President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo began to lead the Indonesian government, China-Indonesia relations have been growing more rapidly. First, Jokowi signed 12 memorandums of understanding on investment and then he invited Chinese businessmen to invest at an APEC meeting in Beijing.

China'€™s economic resurgence is on the one hand a new opportunity for neighboring countries to gain in areas like trade, while the country is a competitor and even a threat.

The maritime vision, which was declared after Jokowi'€™s inauguration on Oct. 10, 2014, states that Indonesia is aiming to become a world maritime axis.

This is a strategic step in the constellation of global forces in the Asia-Pacific region. Jokowi seems to be opening relations between the two countries in the maritime field.

Is this an opportunity or a challenge?

Despite improvements in bilateral relations between the two countries, there are several challenges and obstacles. On the international level, the barriers will most likely come from the US and Japan, given the past role of the US, for example, in overthrowing Sukarno, following the closeness of Sukarno with Beijing, although Sukarno was not a communist.

The closeness of economic relations between Indonesia and China is likely to be perceived as a shift in the important role of the US in the region, which has formed a pattern over a few decades. Another threat comes from the South China Sea (SCS) conflict. It is essential for progress to be maintained for the sake of both countries, and further, for security in Asia-Pacific.

From the Indonesian side, it is necessary to push economic cooperation as it provides both opportunities and technology transfer from China to the country. The differences in ideology of democracy and communism should go hand in hand with the principle of free and active mutual respect.

By way of political systems, Indonesia is inevitably much closely to the US as a democratic state. Instead, in economic activity today, the country seems closer to the Chinese mainland. There should be a separation of political and economic perspectives; do not to repeat the mistakes of the past, in the national interest.

Karmel Simatupang
International relations student
Tunghai University
Taiwan