Symbolic:
Indonesia’s president asked to stand between two of the world’s most powerful
leaders
Jakarta Globe, Robertus Wardi, Nov 12, 2014
The spotlight is on Indonesia, analysts say, as president Joko Widodo stood in the front row between two of the world’s most powerful leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barrack Obama during Monday’s photo session at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Beijing.
The spotlight is on Indonesia, analysts say, as president Joko Widodo stood in the front row between two of the world’s most powerful leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barrack Obama during Monday’s photo session at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in Beijing.
“This is
flattering for Indonesia,” University of Indonesia international relations
expert Hikmahanto Juwana said on Tuesday. “[As host], China has the right to
say who stands where [in the photo shoot].”
The
placement, he said, signals China’s acknowledgement of Indonesia’s important
role in the global political climate.
“Only
[leaders] of important countries get to stand next to the host,” he said adding
that during the 2011 East Asia Summit, which Indonesia hosted, former president
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also got to decide who stands where in a photo shoot of
world leaders.
“China
needs [Indonesia] to mitigate tensions between [China] and many countries,
including the US,” Hikmahanto said of the subtle meanings behind the placement
of Monday’s session.
President
Joko must play this important role, Hikmahanto said, as his predecessor
Yudhoyono did during his administration, with the world looking to Indonesia as
a diplomatic force, which can ease tensions between China and the rest of the
world.
“But the
president also suggested to the international community that [Indonesia] will
carry out that role as long as we don’t sacrifice our national interests,” he
said.
Political
observer from the National Strategic Studies Institute, Irwan Suhanto said
Indonesia’s strategic location also makes many countries to see Indonesia as an
important ally.
“Jokowi is
implicitly saying to the world be friends with Indonesia if you want to move
forward,” he said.
Joko said
he is surprised to find himself standing between Xi and Obama despite the
presence of leaders from more developed and powerful countries.
“I was at
the center. This is a symbol. People are fighting to make friends with
Indonesia,” the president said.
The
leverage had allowed Indonesia to be firmer in pushing its own agendas.
Responding
to China’s proposal of creating an Asia-Pacific free-trade zone, Joko said
Indonesia will not accommodate one-sided needs.
“We don’t
want to support [the proposal] hastily. We must calculate first our products.
What will benefit us. We don’t want to be trapped by their needs,” he said.
The
president said he was more in favor of a partial implementation of the
free-trade area, protecting industries such as fisheries and rattan, which in
Indonesia are produced by individuals instead of large companies.
“We must be
firm when others want us to open [the Indonesian market]. We don’t want others
to flood our country [with their products],” Joko said. “I have said this quite
openly that they were shocked. I want to get straight to the point, no time for
diplomacy.”
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