The newly elected President of Indonesia visits Beijing. China is deploying a scenario to undermine the pro-American consensus in ASEAN

On April 1, 2024, Xi Jinping suddenly announced talks with newly elected Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on expanding defense and strategic cooperation. The Chinese Communist Party broke tradition by hosting a foreign leader in Beijing before the inauguration scheduled for October 20.

As the United States builds its security architecture in the region, China feels the need to seize the initiative from the United States and assert its influence in countries that tend to be autocratic, such as Indonesia.

Indonesia, set to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2050, is attractive because of its economic potential, fueled by a young population, rich natural resources, and a key role in ASEAN.