Academia: Opinion Articles &amp; News Commentary

Vietnam, Indonesia can shape the future of ASEAN

As superpower rivalry intensifies, Vietnam's trade engine and Indonesia's diplomatic heft offer Southeast Asia its best shot at shaping the global order instead of getting caught in the crossfire.

45 minutes ago

Opinion premium

Analysis: Incentives vs. free meals: Regions compete for fiscal relief

The government’s decision to incorporate implementation of the free nutritious meal (MBG) program into the performance criteria for the regional incentive fund (DID) has raised eyebrows. While the fund’s framework is accompanied by plans for additional regional assistance, whether these measures can meaningfully ease regional fiscal pressures amid austerity remains uncertain.

49 minutes ago

The Latest

A giant screen shows news footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping attending the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on July 18, 2024, in Beijing.

Understanding the underlying logic of China's governance

Decoding China's path forward begins with how the CPC governs itself—discover how the Fifth Plenary Session’s push for rigorous self-reform shapes the nation’s modernization and its growing partnership with Indonesia.

1 hour ago

President Prabowo Subianto (center right) reaches for the hand of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (center left) as Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (left) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet look on as they prepare for a “family photo” on May 8, 2026, during the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

Editorial premium

Apologize, then lead

The President must use the opportunity presented by the two summits in Manila next week to apologize for the transboundary haze stemming from Indonesia's fires, and then reassume the country's role as an indispensable leader of ASEAN.

1 hour ago

Record trim: Barbers attend to customers during the Nationwide Free Haircut Festival at Mangkunegaran, Surakarta, Central Java on May 28, 2025. The event was organized by the Employee Association of the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) to break the Indonesian Record Museum (MURI) haircut record.

Taxing the barber will not close Indonesia’s revenue gap

Small businesses are brought into the the tax net once the state shows them what registration buys. Indonesia offers that deal only to its bigger borrowers.

21 hours ago

Energy munchers: Towers containing graphics processing units fitted with a closed-loop liquid cooling system operate on Feb. 4, 2026 at a Microsoft data center in Karawang, West Java.

Indonesia has a new data law. Now comes the hard part

Passing the SDI Law is only the beginning. The real challenge is in translating national standards into operational practices across the country's vast and diverse government institutions.

23 hours ago

A woman wearing a face mask crosses a street on Oct. 17 in front of government public housing apartments in Singapore, as the country continues to be shrouded in haze caused by fires in Indonesia.

Haze crisis tests public trust and diplomatic credibility

The recurring fires in Kalimantan, Sumatra and Papua point to a deeper governance challenge: the ability of the state to prevent environmental disasters, enforce accountability and protect the people who bear their consequences.

1 day ago

interview

Nur Rakhman Setyoko, deputy permanent representative of Indonesia to the World Trade Organization

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Indonesia holds its red lines at faltering WTO, deputy representative says

US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) president and CEO Brian McFeeters poses in an undated picture.

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Clear business climate ‘dealmaker’ amid rising protectionism, USABC says

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta (left) and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn talk on Aug. 1, 2025, at the ASEAN Secretariat in South Jakarta.

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ASEAN should aim for South China Sea of peace, Timor-Leste president says

Munich Security Conference CEO Benedikt Franke

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Middle powers must make choice in rebuilding global order

Deputy Statistics Indonesia (BPS) chief Sonny Harry Budiutomo Harmadi poses for a portrait at the BPS headquarters in Jakarta, in this undated photograph.

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Economic Census helps businesses spot market opportunities: BPS

Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy Vice Adm. Harold Liebergs.

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International cooperation key in facing emerging naval threats: Dutch Navy commander

Deputy Creative Economy Minister Irene Umar gestures during an interview with The Jakarta Post at the ministry office in Autograph Tower, Thamrin Nine, Central Jakarta, on May 7, 2026.

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Creative economy needs stronger inter-ministerial ties: Deputy minister

insight

Insight: The strategic role of PT SMI in fiscal policy and economic expansion

Indonesia’s future economic growth will not be determined solely by the size of government spending, but also by how effectively development financing is managed.

9 months ago

Insight: Rethinking work: Driving sustainable growth in the digital age

The digital age has redefined how we live, communicate and work, but perhaps nowhere is this shift more critical than in the field of medicine and public health. As healthcare systems integrate digital technologies, the traditional roles of medical professionals are being reshaped.

1 year ago

Insight: Innovations in managing and developing human capital

Over the past few years, the role of human resources (HR) has expanded far beyond administrative tasks. HR professionals today are expected to drive innovation, enhance the employee experience and align people strategies with business goals. With the help of technology, these responsibilities have become more manageable, and in many ways, more impactful.

1 year ago

Insight: AI and Efficiency: Sacrifices The Next Generation

Introduction: From One Disruption to Another

1 year ago

Insight: Securing a healthier future: The importance of Indonesia's plasma fractionation facility

The global health crisis brought on by COVID-19 tested healthcare systems worldwide, and Indonesia was no exception. As one of the world’s most populous nations, the nation faced immense challenges yet demonstrated resilience and adaptability in navigating the pandemic.

1 year ago