What Does Non-Alignment Movement Mean to Contemporary Indonesia, and Will It Satisfy China and U.S.?

Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto (C), ccompanied by his coalition party leaders, delivers his victory speech at his residence in Jakarta on March 20 2024, shortly after his election was confirmed by the General Election Commission. BAY ISMOYO / AFP

“Honored to be invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet him in person in Beijing,” Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto tweeted on his official account on Tuesday, 2 April, 2024. Wearing the Indonesian traditional cap “peci”, Prabowo posed and shook hands with the Chinese leader. 

China moves quickly in trying to preserve its warm ties with Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia. Indonesian current president, Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, has for the last ten years been close to Beijing.

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