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Indonesia hedges against US ‘comeback’ into Indo-Pacific
Indonesia is keen to partner up with the United States in its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, but will put the regional interests of ASEAN first.
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(Left to right): Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave to the media prior to the Quad meeting in Tokyo on May 24. The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is believed to be a vehicle that would expand the Quad's level of engagement in the Asia-Pacific. (AFP/STR)
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ndonesia supported the launch of a United States-led regional economic initiative this week but was also adamant about closely studying the proposal before making any concrete commitments, as Washington reveled in the limited fanfare of its “return” to Asia.
Through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) that he unveiled in Japan on Monday, US President Joe Biden has pledged to “work together with close friends and partners in the region on challenges that matter most to economic competitiveness in the 21st century”.
The program offers little in the way of a traditional free-trade deal, but foresees integrating partners through US-approved standards in four main areas: the digital economy, supply chains, clean energy infrastructure and anticorruption measures.
The White House claims to have “a dozen initial partners” on board to help expand US economic leadership in the region, but government officials confirmed on Wednesday that Indonesia had only joined the launch event.
A virtual meeting was held to launch the framework, where each country was represented by a senior official. Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi attended on behalf of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
“We welcome the United States and other countries’ intention to strengthen economic ties and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The launch of IPEF is proof of it,” Muhammad said in a prerecorded video statement on Monday.
He added that going forward, the framework must benefit all the countries involved, remain inclusive and beneficial in the long term, not obstruct development plans in the region as well as work harmoniously with existing frameworks like the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
