Indonesia is facing an economic crisis, with the Rupiah sliding like skiers on the Alps. But USA is not the country to depend on like in the past and is only using Indonesia for its own interest and can hardly be expected to be able to change the fortunes of Indonesia. China is the better bet, but when stupidity has no cure, what can I say.
Of course, Indonesia still carried its anti-Chinese baggage - the riots in 1998 under Suharto. China and the Chinese still have to be reminded of the event, like the Nanjing Massacre, and investing in Indonesia has been tempered with that in mind. It is not just plain sailing, although under Joko Widodo, there were expectations of neutrality. At the G20 summit in Bali in 2022, Widodo stood firm over the inclusion of Russia at the meeting, refusing to abide by the calls by the USA and the others in the group to keep Russia out.
This is the same situation happening with the Philippines today. When Rodrigo Duterte was in power, he attempted to foster good relations with China, but under threats to his life, where he even mentioned about his ability to outlive the CIA threat, there were elements of hope that the Philippines will do the right thing. But everything turned to ashes when the USA engineered the return of the Marcos family and even to rule under its thumb. Now the Philippine is again recolonized by the USA under the radar. Money talks and bullshit walks can fool most people around the world.
Anonymous
Indonesia has oil and other natural resources while the USA has agenda to control the global oil and attempting to keep those resources away from China. So, things can only work with carrots being dangled and I just wonder what carrots the USA have dangled in front of Indonesia to sway them.
ReplyDeleteWe have to be reminded that Papua New Guinea is still ruled by the British. In 2023, Papua New Guinea allowed the USA military to operate out of its bases on the pretext of enhancing its security co-operation. When the devil moves next door, the motive must be studied with caution.
Indonesia is important in ASEAN. The USA lost influence in ASEAN to the Chinese and is desperate to win back its influence. What better than using Indonesia, the kingpin in ASEAN, to lead the herd.
Just like the Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East, what is ASEAN's future if Indonesia and Malaysia, both Muslim countries, fall to the dark side? That would be grim for other ASEAN states. The Philippines, an ASEAN state is already gone to the dogs. The USA is working on Indonesia, perhaps already having insiders doing the groundwork of influencing the leaders. As we well know, money talks and bullshit walks.