Understanding Indonesia-China strategic relations : an Indonesian perspective.

Abstract

The present study examines Indonesia-China relations from the perspective of Indonesia. In particular, it seeks to shed light on Indonesia's foreign policy and behavior toward China by looking at the major episodes in the relationship since the establishment of ties in 1950. The main contention of this paper is that Indonesia's foreign policy and behavior has been primarily geared towards fulfilling domestic requirements rather than anticipating or responding to external or structural changes. In addition, the paper also assesses what these primary domestic requirements are and how they evolve over time.