Hedging. Understanding Indonesia's Foreign Policy Towards China's Belt and Road Initiative
Author
Sari, Genta Permata
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-10-16
Pages
59
Abstract
Denne speciale undersøger, hvordan strategisk hedging kan forklare Indonesiens udenrigspolitik over for Kinas Bælte- og Vej-initiativ (BRI). Med udgangspunkt i BRI’s lancering i 2013 og Joko Widodos Global Maritime Fulcrum (GMF) belyser studiet, hvordan Indonesien som maritim nøglestat i ASEAN både byder kinesisk infrastruktur- og investeringssamarbejde velkommen og samtidig udviser forsigtighed. Specialet anvender en induktiv tilgang og bygger på primærkilder i form af interviews samt sekundærlitteratur. Teoretisk placeres hedging som en udbredt international relationer-tilgang, der kombinerer samarbejde og risikobegrænsning. Analysen peger på en politik præget af økonomisk pragmatisme og forpligtende engagement, men også på bekymringer om tilstrømningen af kinesiske arbejdere, væksten i kinesiske direkte investeringer og gældsättning. Regeringen søger at afbøde risici ved at forme BRI-projekter ud fra Indonesiens egne prioriteringer og behov. Overordnet viser specialet, at hedging er et frugtbart perspektiv til at forstå Indonesiens positive, men forsigtige linje over for BRI.
This thesis examines how strategic hedging explains Indonesia’s foreign policy toward China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Anchored in the 2013 launch of the BRI and President Joko Widodo’s Global Maritime Fulcrum (GMF), it analyzes how Indonesia, as a key maritime state in ASEAN, simultaneously welcomes Chinese infrastructure and investment while exercising caution. The study adopts an inductive research strategy and draws on primary interviews and secondary sources. Conceptually, hedging is treated as a widely used international relations approach that blends cooperation with risk management. The analysis highlights a policy mix of economic pragmatism and binding engagement, alongside concerns about inflows of Chinese workers, the rapid rise of Chinese FDI, and debt exposure. The government seeks to mitigate risks by proposing BRI projects aligned with Indonesia’s own priorities and needs. Overall, the findings suggest that hedging offers a useful lens to understand Indonesia’s positive yet cautious stance toward the BRI.
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