As protests simmer, Prabowo’s China trip carries political risks

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a swift trip to Beijing to attend China’s World War II victory commemoration parade on Wednesday, with his spokesman citing the importance of maintaining strategic ties and the easing of unrest at home.

Analysts said the tightly timed visit reflected Jakarta’s effort to reassure key diplomatic partners and project stability abroad following global coverage of Indonesia’s violent protests over the weekend, but warned it carried “political risks” at home if perceived as dismissive of protesters and their demands.

Presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi confirmed Prabowo’s trip late on Tuesday. “To maintain strong ties with China, the president agreed to travel tonight and return the next evening,” he said, as quoted by state news agency Antara.

Prasetyo said the president had decided to proceed with the visit after he had “reviewed the situation and received reports from all relevant agencies confirming that conditions are improving”.

The 80th anniversary parade in Beijing, hosted by President Xi Jinping, drew more than two dozen heads of state including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.