Thinking the Unthinkable: Indonesia’s Search for a Reliable Partnership with the US or China

Abstract

The rise of China stipulates the changing of global architecture on power relationship. Many argue that China attempts to dethrone the United States as a single, unchallenged power in international relations. As this situation continues to develop, China seems to be unpredictable in exercising its foreign policy, specifically at the regional level of Asia Pacific. The uncertain circumstance and fear of losing its power, force the US to interfere the region with a noble motive of safeguarding the other states from Beijing’s aggressive moves. Many countries builds strong connection with China to boost their economic development while at the same time trusting the US more than anyone else in this world for their security, including strategic military cooperation. Among many countries, Indonesia stands in that dilemmatic situation where she needs to capture all opportunities from her growing neighbour and accommodate her traditional security partner. This research aims to unveil Indonesia’s preference on determining a reliable partner for its foreign policy given two available options of the US and China. If Indonesia, in the future when the regional rivalry intensifies, has to select one of them as its primary partner, who will Indonesia choose? This research argues that Indonesia will lean to the US in maintaining its security affairs in the region. This argument base on the findings that in traditional context, US has been very close to Indonesia and until today, its close ties remain. Second, that China’s aggressive moves in the region impedes Indonesia to conduct positive relationship with China in strategic security context. This research applies positivist approach with qualitative methods in which data collection is conducted through literature review and observation.