Jokowi in Prime Spot at APEC

Symbolic: Indonesia’s president asked to stand between two of the world’s most powerful leaders

Jakarta Globe, Robertus Wardi, Nov 12, 2014

Russian President Vladimir Putin walks past US President Barack Obama
 as Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana and other world leaders
 and their spouses get into position for a family photo before a banquet in Beijing
on Nov. 10, 2014. (EPA Photo/Sergei Ilnitsky)

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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