However, Indonesia adopted a quieter approach to China’s encroachment in the later period of Widodo’s presidency.
This may have been an effort not to escalate tensions, or “winning the war without shaming the enemies” as one former Indonesian foreign ministry official described. Or it may have reflected Jokowi’s desire to attract infrastructure investments from Beijing and expand trade and economic relations.
Nevertheless, China continued to maintain some form of presence in the waters around the Natunas, with little publicity given to any confrontation between the Chinese and the Indonesians.
DIFFERENT APPROACH?
The attention given to this latest incident might suggest that Prabowo’s approach will differ from Jokowi’s.
Prabowo was defence minister under Widodo and was well-versed in the previous approach. But the fact that the Indonesian Coast Guard released a video providing details of the latest confrontation with a China Coast Guard vessel so soon after Prabowo’s inauguration indicated a departure from quiet diplomacy.
It may be a form of assertive transparency, akin to efforts by the Philippines, regarding the waters around the Natunas.
