Description: Foreign representatives from both countries have signed a joint comprehensive plan which would comprise of cooperation in several sectors such as defense, security, infrastructure development and rare earth minerals exploitation. The meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indonesia’s Foreign and Defense ministers Sugiono and Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin held in Beijing, emphasized the enhancement in bilateral cooperation in the midst of raising concerns over Chinese influence in the South China Sea. Indonesia’s representatives have also announced their intentions of opening a consulate in the Chinese city of Chengdu, further reaffirming the cordially reestablished relations. China has also become Indonesia’s largest trading partner in recent years investing millions in Indonesia’s infrastructure. The meeting comes amidst ever consistent trade and strategic global threats from the imposition of tariffs by the US.
Impact: China continues to heavily invest in their foreign diplomatic efforts to grow regional economic and trade ties while bolstering their influence and presence on a geostrategic level. Chinese President Xi Jinping personally reassured regional allies last week with visits to Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia, signaling China’s mid – term strategy in the trade war with the US. The joint comprehensive cooperation agreement with Indonesia would further improve China’s global and regional economic and political posturing. Despite disputes over parts of the South China Sea, both countries have strategically aligned facing severe economic fluctuations on the global market from the US tariffs. One of the key points of joint cooperation would be the exploitation of rare earth minerals which dictate the modern-day economy and industrially powered sectors such as chip manufacturing and AI development. The move would benefit both Indonesia and China in times when US foreign policy adopts conservative principles of isolationism.