Resource abundance alone is not destiny. Indonesia’s next challenge is to turn mineral wealth into sustainable, rules-based prosperity.

Forget traffic snarls, flooding and catching a chill: It turns out that at least for the past three years, if not longer, rainy season brings with it the risk that Jakartans could inhale microplastics that can harm our health for the long term.

Malaysia has proven its ability to walk and balance the delicate path of non-alignment.

There is nothing in the ASEAN Charter that rules out the possibility of Papua New Guinea one day joining the club.

The appointment of Gen. (ret) Glenny H. Kairupan as President Director and CEO of Indonesia's flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has stirred public debate about whether friendship can lift a troubled airline. Glenny, who took part in combat missions with President Prabowo Subianto, replaces another of Prabowo's close associates, Wamildan Tsani.

Things may not be as dire as they seem.

A new law has been passed to regulate mining and protect the environment and local communities, but its enforcement remains weak.

This year marks one year since the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia’s Culture Ministry - the first time in our nation’s 79 years of independence that culture stands with a ministry of its own, a historic reaffirmation of our constitutional mandate, enshrined in Article 32(1) of the 1945 Constitution, which declares that “the State shall advance the national culture amid world civilization by guaranteeing the freedom of the people to preserve and develop their cultural values.”

As the world grapples with multiple uncertainties, those with a sense of self-preservation that are also quick and nimble will come out on top.

As we commemorate the Sumpah Pemuda, perhaps it’s time to rethink what “one nation” means in a global era, and why letting Indonesians hold dual citizenship could strengthen, not weaken, our unity.

Today’s youth are numerous but politically complacent; celebrated as a demographic bonus yet treated as disposable; expressive in voice but struggling to author a narrative of their own.

The next evolution in Indonesia’s digital economy must come not from founders or policymakers, but from investors, those who choose to fund endurance, not exits. 

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has confirmed that Chinese J-10 fighter jets are set to soar across Indonesia's airspace, ending months of speculation. While this procurement follows Indonesia's recent acquisitions of Rafale jets from France and fighter aircraft from Turkey, the Beijing deal has drawn particular attention for its speed and opaque timing.

Indonesia could again take a lead as ASEAN stands at a crossroads in the present era of protectionist policies and global disruption, but only if it sends a clear signal that it is not only willing to step up to the plate but also stay and captain all players on the field as a unified team.

The US’ punitive tariffs on India present an opportunity for the two countries to strengthen bilateral ties.

As the ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Indonesia, I feel it is my duty to clarify the essence of the Taiwan question and set the record straight.

Timor-Leste has become clear evidence that strategic investment and regional cooperation can drive progress toward malaria elimination. 

AI raises questions about work, inequality and the human condition

The newly completed bill on cybersecurity and cyber resilience still prioritizes the protection of national interests instead of upholding citizens' digital rights and also involves the TNI in enforcement, leading to legal uncertainty that potentially threatens democracy and the rule of law in Indonesia.

The region is shedding its illusions about predictable superpower diplomacy and is instead embracing a strategy that is intensely transactional and fiercely pragmatic.

Several private companies, including Garibaldi "Boy" Thohir's Adaro Energy, have been dragged into the spotlight after prosecutors charged PT Pertamina and its subsidiary, PT Pertamina Patra Niaga (PPN), with corruption that allegedly cost the state trillions of rupiah. The case centers on the underpricing of unsubsidized Solar and Biosolar, Pertamina's diesel and biodiesel fuel brands, sold to numerous private sector buyers. The indictment, which could result in state losses of up to hundreds of trillions of rupiah, has sparked a heated debate among experts and civil society. Some caution against the potential criminalization of private sector buyers, while others insist on pursuing all possible corporate links to the corruption scheme.

A national car is back on the agenda, but what makes President Prabowo Subianto think that this iteration will fare better than similar projects in the past?

We believe in co-creation: as a relatively small nation, we cannot produce everything on our own, and we need international trade.

We need to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks around the world, provide training and equipment to enforcement agencies and promote cross-border cooperation.

Trump’s tariff-first trade policies fundamentally misunderstand 21st-century supply-chain economics.

If anything, such scrutiny is mandatory if the institution in question gets funding from the state or receives a permit from the government to run their operation. 

Purbaya has dismantled several long-untouched practices and proved many observers wrong about the country’s fiscal stability.