So Indonesia see China as regional opponents？
There are many trade between these two country, I never consider about that.
Indonesia do not wish to have enemy, and prefer to make friends.
Prabowo also once mentioned it in international forum in Russia, in front of Putin :" thousand friend is too few and one enemy is too many and we want to be friend with everybody."
Trade and investment between ID and CN is big, and CN is among the main trade and investment partner for Indonesia.
Why ID suspicious/careful attitude towards CN despite the good economic cooperation?
1. CN hostile and provocative actions in the north natuna sea, conducted by their fishing boat militia, coast guard and navy.
2. Hacking and information theft towards Indonesian govt.
3. CN actively spying on indonesian waters conducted by CN "research ship" and UUV. Years ago several CN UUV found in ID waters. And just few months ago another CN UUV found. These few UUV were accidentally found by luck, imagine those that is currently still operating secretly in ID water, sunk to ocean floor, retrieved or left ID water must be in huge numbers.
4. CN agrresive, militaristic, expansionist behavior is a concern not only for ID but also the region.
Its not that ID want to become CN opponent but CN behavior is not something that a friend will do.
Overal, on economic cooperation its good but on security and defense CN still can't be trusted. Thus its okay to pursue deeper cooperation on economic front but for security and defense (buying fighter jet, warship, submarine)? Better not.
Hopefully in the future CN and ID can reach an understanding and trust on defrnse and security issue and work together to create a safer region and world, also focus to develop and grow together.
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