1st Edition

Indonesia and China The Politics of a Troubled Relationship

By Rizal Sukma Copyright 1999

    Indonesia broke off relations with China in 1967 and resumed them only in 1990. Rizal Sukma asks why. His answers shed light on Indonesia's foreign policy, the nature of the New Order's domestic politics, the mixed functions of diplomatic ties, the legitimacy of the new regime, and the role of President Suharto. Rizal Sukma argues that the matter of Indonesia restoring diplomatic ties with China is best understood in terms of the efforts made by the military-based New Order government to sustain its political legitimacy. The analysis in this book proves that an absence as well as a presence of diplomatic relations may advance not only the external but the domestic interests of an incumbent government. This is the first major study on Indonesia and China's diplomatic relations under the New Order government. It will be illuminating for research students and lecturers in international politics, international relations, policy making and diplomacy

    Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Indonesia's foreign policy and Indonesia–China diplomatic relations (1950–1967); Chapter 3 The suspension of diplomatic ties; Chapter 4 Foreign policy debate; Chapter 5 The functions of resistance; Chapter 6 Towards the restoration of relations; Chapter 7 Indonesia's normalisation decision and the role of President Suharto; Chapter 8 Conclusion;

    Biography

    Rizal Sukma is Deputy Director of Studies at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta. International Relations/Politics/Asian Studies

    'The book breaks interesting new ground ... a most useful work.' - Asian Studies Review Vol. 26:4