An Analysis Of The Diplomatic Strategy Of The Great Powers In Indonesia

Southeast Asia, a strategically important region, has witnessed great power competition since the Second World War. Indonesia is a regional power in Southeast Asia,and plays an important role in regional and international issues. In order to remain proactive, the Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia finally choose the strategy featuring balance of power. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is the sixth president of Indonesia and the first democratically elected president who reigned for 10 years. While serving as the president, based on his analysis of the international landscape and the relations among great powers, Susilo flexibly operated the strategy of balance among great powers, developed relations with the U.S., China and Japan each with its own focus, maintained stability of Indonesia and Southeast Asia, and promoted the international status of Indonesia. These achievements are clear for all to see.This article, based on the theory of power balance, analyses the foreign strategy of Southeast Asian countries, reviews the history of Indonesia’s power balance strategy since its independence; and discusses Indonesia’s strategy especially during Susilo’s second term from political, economic, security and multilateral perspectives. This article focuses on the reasons behind Indonesia’s strategy with consideration of the international and regional backgrounds, Indonesia’s domestic affairs, culture, as well as Susilo himself; analyses the new trend and future of Indonesia’s strategy since Joko Widodo assumed presidential powers; and makes recommendations on how to further develop China-Indonesia relations.