How Indonesia is going its own way on Beijing, Brics and the South China Sea

In just one week, two encounters in different parts of the world showed the balance Indonesia is trying to strike between its strategic and economic interests.

In the Russian city of Kazan, Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono was doing the diplomatic rounds to promote Jakarta’s bid to become a full member of Brics, a China-backed bloc of emerging economies.

Thousands of kilometres away in the South China Sea, Indonesian patrol ships were driving away Chinese coastguard vessels in waters where the countries have overlapping maritime claims.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will perform that balancing act again later this month when he visits Beijing on a multistop trip to raise Jakarta’s international standing.

Observers say there are good reasons for both China and Indonesia to compartmentalise different issues in the relationship.

The main source of friction is the oil and gas-rich Natuna Islands off northern Borneo.

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Пекин Военные Действия

Южно-Китайское море Брик путь пекин неделя встреча разный мир часть