What people like to argue is "Hey look at (insert Japanese or any foreign car/product that is produced in Indonesia here) they are almost 100% built in Indonesia by Indonesians in parts largest to smallest, it means we became more developed!"
While it is true that the manufacture of foreign car in Indonesia contributed to technological advances, it has little impact on technology mastery. It is the same reason why B. J. Habibie does not want CASA to open branch in Indonesia, instead he put his trust in IPTN which is (during the development of CN-235 with Spain) is like earth and sky compared to CASA.
Then someone would argue "Those foreign brands located/having a branch in Indonesia could produce the latest technology locally in Indonesia, it means we are not left behind in technology" - It is not as simple as that, even if that technology is being produced in Indonesia the intelectual property, the blueprint, any research document are still in the hands of foreign company not in our indigenous engineer. This means no innovations could be developed, and the technology level of Indonesia will always behind the foreign company's nation of origin. What worse is that if the foreign company's nation of origin put constraint on us - e.g ban on certain parts, material, or embargo.
Then someone would argue "It is not likely Japan (or insert any country in that matter) would embargo us in the field that is not military" - Well you wanna make a bet huh?
Someone would argue "Then what Esemka did was the right thing" - Bruhhh, Esemka did not licensed the parts, they just rebadge ("tempel stiker") the thing. Esemka is very different from Texmaco which could make it's own lathe, CNC machine, pouring machine, drilling machine, even licensed foreign engine (I like to believe Pindad vs Texmaco back in 2003 is like "earth and sky", with Pindad being the earth). What more worrying is that Esemka is still severely undermanned, and 90% of it's employee is not engineer (or have any technology-related diploma/degree in that matter), it means indigenous innovation would be hard to achieve.
Then someone would argue "Texmaco can still be constrained by the engine's country of origin" - It's true, but they licensed it and the technological-know-how can be absorbed by our engineer.
Someone would argue again "Texmaco can absorb the technology of the licensed engine, it means the (insert foreign automaker name) can do the same" - Of course they can do, but in the future, would the indigenous engineer worked there make a new technology, or just "wait" their master to produce X part/car? Would the engineer "melepaskan diri" (broke off) from that foreign company's grasp and make a new technology in behalf of Indonesia that would benefit the independence/mastery of technology of Indonesia?
This is already happened in history. Circa 1550-1650 the Sultanate of Aceh could make good weapons from superheavy siege cannons to hand held firearms, and their fleet is larger (in ship's size and quantity) compared to neighboring kingdom even to Portugal's fleet. Their production is affected by hundreds (even thousand) Turkish engineer/gunfounder and shipbuilder present in Aceh (they have local craftsmen as well but the top brass is still Turkish). But after Malacca fell to the Dutch in 1641, Aceh has no real enemy (as the Portuguese is no more) and thus Ottoman did not sent further manpower and technicians. In 1810s the Acehnese could no longer make large cannon, muskets, and fighting ships; For gunpowder weapon they became reliant on their neighbor, the Minangkabau people. Unlike the Acehnese, Minangkabau people learned on their own how to make gun and other weapons, they does not depend on foreign power, and it resulted in mastery of technology, thus the weapon could be made independently regardless the presence of foreign craftsmen.
These does not mean I support or reject "Japan's strategy" theory, I'm just pointing out how mastery of technology by local company (that is not an extension/subsidiary of foreign company) is important.
percentage of their production being done in Indonesia, including the smallest bolts, till their largest part including machine block and chase!!
www.cnnindonesia.com
www.cnbcindonesia.com
tni-au.mil.id
education discourage critical thinking. And worse its leaning more and more toward certain religion based rather than STEM based. Even back in the OrBa period we were encouraged to think critically but always warned by our teacher that such critical thinking (critique toward Soeharto regime) shouldn't leave the classroom.
