President Jokowi: Collaboration, Not Proxy

As the United States and China battle for influence, ASEAN is often left to act as a proxy. However, what this region needs is collaboration.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno P Marsudi gives a statement to journalists at Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Sunday (7/5/2023). The President went to Labuan Bajo to check final readiness ahead of the 42nd ASEAN Summit (Summit) on 9-11 May 2023.

WEST MANGGARAI, KOMPAS – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reiterated that ASEAN upheld the principle of collaboration and rejected proxies. This was conveyed in reference to the battle for influence between the two superpowers, the US and China.

“Indonesia’s principle during its ASEAN chairmanship is collaboration and cooperation with anyone. We don’t want ASEAN to become anyone’s or any country’s proxy. What we want is for ASEAN to be open, to cooperate with anyone and with any country,” said President Jokowi when answering journalists’ questions at Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday (7/5/2023).

President Jokowi arrived in Labuan Bajo to chair the 42nd ASEAN Summit from 9-11 May. The summit takes place as the region faces a new “cold war” between the US and China.

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Several international relations experts are of the view that the US-China battle for influence today is more at risk of becoming an open conflict compared to the cold war between the US and Soviet Union in 1947-1991. Any escalation risks disrupting the stability and security of ASEAN, which will cause complications and impede economic growth.

Based on the principle of collaboration and rejecting proxies, Jokowi continued, ASEAN must resolve every issue through dialogue. “This is very important, especially in the case of Myanmar,” said Jokowi.

President Jokowi also previously emphasized ASEAN’s principle to uphold collaboration and reject proxies after Cambodia handed over the ASEAN chair to Indonesia in November 2022. At the time, in Bali, Jokowi stated that ASEAN must remain a peaceful region, uphold human and democratic values, safeguard international law and not act as anyone’s proxy. “Economic cooperation must be strengthened so that ASEAN will be more prosperous and advanced,” said Jokowi.

A decade

Based on the 2018-2022 Asia Power Index published by the Lowy Institute, China has succeeded in increasing its influence in ASEAN compared to the US. China’s influence over that of the US in Southeast Asia was 52-48 in 2018 and 54-46 in 2022.

During that five-year period, US influence diminished in four categories in the Asia Power Index, namely economic relations, defense networks, diplomatic influence and cultural influence.

China has also managed to increase its dominance among ASEAN countries through economic relations.

The US is more influential than China in two countries, namely Singapore and the Philippines. Meanwhile, China’s greatest influence is found in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Compared to China, the US still maintains strong defense ties with ASEAN countries. However, China has also managed to increase its dominance among ASEAN countries through economic relations.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

Flags of countries participating in the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Golo Mori, Komodo District, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, where the ASEAN Directors General Meeting (SOM) was held in the series of the 42nd ASEAN Summit, Monday (8/5/2023).

Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, at the opening of IMDEX Asia in Singapore on 3 May, said the conflict in the South China Sea and its surroundings had had a huge impact. Conflicts in Asia, particularly between the US and China, often resulted in disruptions to 25 percent of global trade.

China has the largest economy and military in Asia. Beijing also controls a 15 percent share of global exports and is a major trading partner for most of Asia. “The world depends on China,” he said, as quoted from the Singaporean Defense Ministry’s website.

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Moreover, China absorbs up to 30 percent of Asian exports and at least 10 percent of exports from other continents. China also absorbs up to 23 percent of Indonesia’s exports. The majority of China’s imports from Indonesia are raw materials.

The impact of this conflict in Asia, Hen explained, would be greater than the war in Ukraine. Russia only controls 2 percent share of global exports. However, complications from the Ukrainian war have disrupted the global economy. Just imagine if a war broke out involving countries with greater contributions to the global economy.

Preparations for the summit

In a statement to reporters at the 42nd ASEAN Summit media center, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the summit would be attended by nine ASEAN heads of government or heads of state and ASEAN secretary-general Kao Kim Hourn.

Timor Leste Prime Minister Taur Matan Ruak will also be in attendance. As Retno mentioned, Timor Leste is already technically an ASEAN member. To obtain its full membership, Dili must still fulfill a number of conditions. The road map for Timor Leste’s full ASEAN membership will be addressed by ASEAN leaders at the summit in Labuan Bajo.

In addition to Timor Leste’s membership, the summit will also discuss two documents related to migrant workers’ protection.

According to Retno, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha and Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlain would be absent from the summit. While Prayut is busy preparing his party for elections on 14 May, Min was not invited to the summit. ASEAN decided that Myanmar could only be represented by officials at the director general level. ASEAN has rejected the presence of all Myanmar officials at the ministerial level or higher at ASEAN forums.

In addition to Timor Leste’s membership, the summit will also discuss two documents related to migrant workers’ protection.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.