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Navigating new waters: Indonesia's role in the wake of Xi's US visit
Indonesia's foreign policy, rooted in non-alignment and strategic autonomy principles, resonates more with the inclusive and economically focused "Asia-Pacific" concept.
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Hand in hand: United States President Joe Biden (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, the US, on Nov. 15, 2023. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
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hinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to the United States, coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting in San Francisco, marks a significant moment in international diplomacy, particularly from Indonesia's vantage point.
The Chinese leader’s first visit to the US since April 2017 has come amid a period of tumultuous Sino-US relations characterized by heightened tensions and strategic mistrust.
The past six and a half years have seen Sino-US relations caught in a whirlwind of antagonistic policies, trade wars and geopolitical maneuvering, primarily under the Trump administration. The relationship of the two giants, a complex tapestry of interdependence and rivalry, has been fraught with challenges, impacting global economic stability and regional security architectures.
Indonesia, situated strategically in Southeast Asia, has observed these developments with keen interest, understanding that the dynamics between these two global powers significantly influence regional stability and economic prosperity.
Xi's visit comes when the global political landscape is intensely complex, with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the never-ending turbulence in the Middle East draining significant resources and attention from the US. This scenario has prompted a recalibration in Washington's approach to Beijing.
A clue toward this shift was the recent visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the US, signaling a possible thaw in relations. This development was cautiously welcomed by Indonesia, which values regional stability and economic development.
Central to the discussions and the broader narrative around this visit is the conceptual dichotomy between "Asia-Pacific" and "Indo-Pacific". This distinction is far from a semantic triviality.
