Repositioning Indonesians as Pacific Islanders

On March 17, Indonesia and Samoa celebrated 29 years of diplomatic ties.

Upon deeper observation, you will see that the bilateral relationship between the two countries for almost three decades is limited to mutual visits, technical cooperation and support in international organizations, without touching on anything strategic.

Similar conditions can be found in Indonesia’s partnerships with almost all South Pacific countries in the Pacific Islands Forum (Australia, the Cook Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu). Indonesia’s past policies on its South Pacific neighbors were decidedly passive.

Reflecting upon this, it is not a mistake that many see Indonesia as prioritizing its identity as an Asian nation at the expense of promoting its identity as part of the Pacific Islands. This is despite 2015 data from the Education and Culture Ministry showing that around 13 million Indonesians in its five easternmost provinces (East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, North Maluku, Papua and West Papua) are part of Melanesia and Polynesia -- major ethnic groups in the Pacific. This is equal to the combined global population of the Pacific Islands.

Indonesians’ similarities to Pacific Islanders go beyond mere statistics. Scientifically, a major school of thought in genetics believes that the Austronesian people of Polynesia had come from Southeast Asia and Indonesia. Linguistics serve as more proof. The Indonesian language, which is derived from Malay, has its roots in the Malayo-Polynesian language family.

Unsurprisingly, there are many words that similar to the Indonesian and Pacific languages. For instance, the word lima in Fiji also means five, like in Indonesian. The Indonesian and Samoan languages also have the same words for mata (eye) and biru (blue). In terms of local wisdom, Papua New Guinea’s national motto is “unity in diversity”, similar to Indonesia’s “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika”.

Other than climate change, connectivity is a major issue in the Pacific. This is because countries in the region have larger sea than land territories. A 2014 study by Gadjah Mada University’s Center for Transportation and Logistics Studies (Pustral UGM) found that the Pacific region is not well-connected, both by air and sea.

Indonesia’s policy as the Global Maritime Fulcrum can be the country’s point of reentry into the Pacific region, including by developing sea toll routes that reach South Pacific countries. With this concept, there can be a change in how Indonesia and Pacific countries see the ocean, from something that separates into something that unites. This writer believes that our diplomacy in the Pacific is an implementation of maritime diplomacy.

Indonesia’s position in the Pacific

In a limited Cabinet meeting in May 2018, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo reaffirmed the importance of Indonesia’s presence in the South Pacific through the improvement of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with countries in the region. With the inclusion of Indonesia, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will enjoy immense growth in market access, from a combined population of 40 million and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of US$1.6 trillion, into a regional bloc with a population of 300 million and total GDP of US$2.6 trillion.

Based upon the market potentials and cultural similarities between Indonesia and Pacific nations, as well as the geographical position of eastern Indonesia, Indonesia initiated the “Pacific Exposition” trade, investment, tourism and culture exhibition. The event will be held in July, involving all South Pacific countries and with support from Australia and New Zealand. This is Indonesia’s effort to capitalize its basic capital. The “Pacific Exposition”, as agreed by the three host countries, will be a step toward regional economic integration and the creation of a Pacific identity.

Through the development of proper Pacific diplomacy, all countries in the South Pacific can hope for equitable economic development and stable regional politics and security. For Indonesia, its Pacific diplomacy is an effort to reintegrate itself as part of the Pacific community.

TANTOWI YAHYA, Indonesian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga