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Indonesians see China as dominant power
Indonesians perceive China as the dominant power in Asia, but they also view this development in an increasingly negative light, according to the latest study by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI)
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Indonesians perceive China as the dominant power in Asia, but they also view this development in an increasingly negative light, according to the latest study by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI).
The survey reveals that China, the United States and Japan are the countries with the most influence in Asia, according to Indonesians. The survey, which was published on Sunday, polled 1,540 registered voters across Indonesia from July 10 to 15 last year in the aftermath of the general election.
It showed that 39 percent of Indonesians believed that China was the most influential country in Asia, followed by the US and Japan with 18 and 14 percent, respectively.
About 3 percent of respondents opted for other countries while the remaining 24 percent either said they did not know the answer, did not understand the question or declined to answer.
China’s dominance increased sharply from the same survey in 2016, when the US and China were both considered equally influential in Asia — each by 24 percent of Indonesian respondents. In the LSI’s 2011 survey, the US was the most dominant country in Asia with 29 percent of Indonesians opting for the US, while only 19 percent of respondents leaned toward China.
“What is new is that the US’ dominant influence has been replaced by China. A decade ago, it was the US that was seen as the most influential in Asia and in Indonesia. Now and 10 years from now, it is China,” the LSI said.
According to the survey, around 39 percent of respondents believed that China would remain the most influential country for the next 10 years, compared to the US and Japan with only 13 and 10 percent.
However, China’s growing dominance also came with negative public sentiment, mostly related to political and economic factors, with China being perceived as an economic threat, according to the survey.
In 2019, the respondents were evenly divided, 34 to 34 percent, on whether China was beneficial or detrimental to Asia. But the latest survey showed negative trends in how people perceive China over the years. Around 47 percent of respondents in 2011 said China’s influence would bring positive outcomes to Asia, while 26 percent of respondents in the same year perceived China as having a negative impact.
Such sentiments were also evident when respondents were asked whether China was beneficial or detrimental to Indonesia. Around 40 percent of respondents in 2019 leaned positively toward China, a decline from 58 percent in 2011; while 36 percent believed China’s influence would harm Indonesia, an increase from 17 percent in 2011.
The LSI survey was conducted months before the skirmishes between China and Indonesia in the North Natuna Sea, but it also lays bare the existing preconceptions of everyday Indonesians.
The negative perception toward China in 2019 was largely influenced by political partisanship in the presidential election that year, when supporters of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto accused incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo of being “China’s lackey", according to the survey. The idea was believed by 13 percent of respondents in April 2019.
China is Indonesia's largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at US$72.6 billion in 2018. It is also the third-largest foreign investor in the country, with total investments reaching a value of $2.3 billion that year.
Indonesia has joined many other countries in participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, but the public perception of Chinese investment is marred by suspicions it has brought “millions” of Chinese workers in its wake. Official data show that there are in fact only 24,804 Chinese workers in Indonesia.
International relations expert Teuku Rezasyah of Padjadjaran University criticized the survey, saying that its methods should have been more finely tuned toward different groups in Indonesia because "Indonesia-China relations have so many faces and colors”.
He said in terms of education, Indonesia has “collegial relations with China”, but in terms of trade, Indonesian businesses were concerned that China would dump its products on Indonesia's market. Meanwhile in defense and security circles, there is anxiety over China's activities in the South China Sea.
Rezasyah said if the survey was conducted today following a standoff earlier this month when Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels entered Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Natunas, public opinion might differ from the poll in July.
"However, Indonesian people were already critical of China over the Uighur issue and concerned over the impacts of its Belt and Road Initiative," he said.
