Why Did Xi Jinping Skip Indonesia on His Southeast Asia Visit? CSIS Explains

April 16, 2025 | 08:15 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President China Xi Jinping visited three Southeast Asian countries amid the escalating tensions between China and the United States. 

The China-U.S.relations became tense after both countries imposed import tariffs of over 100 percent. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 145 percent import tariff on Chinese products, while China set a 125 percent import tariff on American products.

The three countries visited by Xi Jinping were Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Indonesia was not included in the list.

According to the Executive Director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Yose Rizal Damhuri, there was no urgency for Xi Jinping to visit Indonesia.

"I'm sure there is no problem (between Indonesia and China)," Yose said when approached by Tempo at the 70th Anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference at the CSIS Auditorium in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

Yose assessed that the relationship between Indonesia and China seemed good, considering that President Prabowo Subianto and Xi Jinping often communicated with each other.

Therefore, there was nothing to worry about if Xi Jinping did not visit Indonesia on this occasion.

Yose also stated that communication between Prabowo and Xi Jinping did not always have to be in the form of face-to-face meetings. He believed that online communication could also be utilized by both countries.

"The important thing is to have agreements and commonalities that can be brought by the two leaders," he said.

He suggested that Xi Jinping’s visits to three Southeast Asian countries might not be directly tied to efforts to consolidate strength against the import tariff policies introduced by Trump.

"That kind of consolidation may be a lower priority. What truly matters are efforts that enhance cooperation among these nations," he said.

Xi Jinping is visiting Southeast Asia for five days. As reported by Xinhua, this visit reaffirms the continuity and stability of environmental diplomacy and the vision for eternal peace and development in Asia.

The visit to these three countries, whether coincidental or not, occurs amid the escalating trade war between the U.S. and China.

Editor's Choice: Here's Prabowo's Directive as Delegation Departs for U.S. to Negotiate Tariffs

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