Research area
China-Indonesia Relations
China-Indonesia relations desk provides analysis about current and future issues of China economic, political and socio-cultural.
2026 China-Indonesia Energy Transition Cooperation: Progress, Prospects, and Recommendations
CELIOS's annual review finds that between October 2025 and October 2026, China-Indonesia energy transition cooperation moved from signing agreements to building factories while negotiations intensified over nickel, ownership, and finance. The report records 34 agreements, meetings, and project milestones, assesses progress in battery, electric vehicle, nickel, and solar cooperation, and sets out ten recommendations for a more transparent, predictable, and results-based partnership.
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Annual China-Indonesia Survey: Insights into Indonesian Perceptions of China 2025
The China–Indonesia Survey 2025, conducted by CELIOS, provides a comprehensive overview of Indonesian public perceptions toward China amid growing bilateral engagement. The survey examines key areas including the economy, politics, technology, education, security, and the energy transition, as well as public views on President Prabowo’s closeness to China and its implications for diplomacy, national sovereignty, and global positioning. Key findings show a broadly positive outlook, with 66% of re
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2025 China-Indonesia Energy Transition Cooperation: Progress, Prospects, and Recommendations
Between October 2024 and October 2025, Indonesia and China have strengthened their energy transition cooperation, reflecting a growing alignment in policy priorities for sustainable growth and green industrial transformation. The partnership has expanded beyond traditional trade and infrastructure toward renewable energy development, battery supply chains, electric vehicle production, and digital energy systems. Institutional and financial engagement has deepened, with Indonesia’s new sovereign
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2025 China-Indonesia Provincial Index: understanding China's footholds across Indonesian provinces
China’s presence in Indonesia is no longer confined to the national capital; it is deepening and spreading across the archipelago. The 2025 China–Indonesia Provincial Index, the second edition of this annual study, provides a systematic mapping of China’s footholds in Indonesia’s provinces from 1 August 2024 to 1 August 2025. Building on last year’s inaugural research, the findings show that China’s presence has not only persisted but expanded across more provinces, sectors, and levels of governance.
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Behind the green curtain: unpacking greenwashing in Indonesia’s China-backed investments
China often markets “green” investment as a branding strategy under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Yet behind the sustainability slogans lies a question: what narratives are actually being promoted in Indonesia? This report examines the background and context of Chinese investment, explains the practice of greenwashing, and highlights the negative impacts that have emerged. By examining the narratives, key actors, and policy gaps, the report seeks to reveal the realities behind the green labels that are often…
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The fallout of PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry closure: How Danantara can save Indonesia’s critical minerals
The potential closure of PT Gunbuster Nickel Industry (PT GNI), a Chinese-owned nickel smelter in Central Sulawesi with 12,000 employees and USD 3 billion in investment, poses major risks to Indonesia’s nickel industry and foreign investment climate. However, this challenge also presents a strategic opportunity for reform. An acquisition by BPI Danantara could be a key step in ensuring operational continuity, protecting jobs, and strengthening national control over the critical mineral supply chain.
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China-Indonesia survey 2024: Insights into Indonesian public perceptions of China
CELIOS released the “China-Indonesia Survey 2024” to understand public perceptions of relations between Indonesia and China. Zulfikar Rakhmat, Director of CELIOS’s China-Indonesia Desk, emphasized that “Indonesia’s efforts to strengthen its role on the global stage are commendable, but it is equally important to manage international partnerships carefully, especially in addressing the risks of excessive dependence and potential political influence.” The survey shows that 58% of respondents want the government to increase mutually beneficial economic cooperation while safeguarding national sovereignty.
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Redefining China’s “debt-trap”: An Indonesian perspective
Over the past decade, Indonesia-China relations have reached their peak since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, Director of the China-Indonesia Desk at CELIOS, emphasized that the debt-trap issue is not only about financial matters. “When a country feels unable to make independent policy decisions for fear of upsetting its cooperation partner, that can also be considered being trapped in debt. In the context of Indonesia and China, for example, we
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Press release: CELIOS’ response to Indonesia’s BRICS membership in 2024
Jakarta, October 26, 2024 — Less than a week after the inauguration of the president and the new cabinet, Indonesia’s government has drawn public attention, both at home and abroad, following Foreign Minister Sugiono’s statement at the BRICS Plus Summit in Kazan on October 24, 2024. Sugiono submitted a letter of expression of interest to join the alliance of five major countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS). Indonesia has now officially applied for membership
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China-Indonesia Provincial Index 2024: Understanding Chinese Influence in Indonesian Provinces
Jakarta, August 22, 2024—CELIOS’ China-Indonesia Desk launched Indonesia’s first “China-Indonesia Provincial Index,” examining China’s influence across 38 provinces in eight crucial sectors. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, Director of CELIOS’ China-Indonesia Desk, emphasized, “The perfect score achieved by Central Java highlights that close economic ties are also facilitated by Chinese investment, reflecting the important role of local governments in maintaining these dynamic relationships.” In the se
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Mapping the interactions of three 2024 Indonesian presidential candidates with China
Jakarta, August 4, 2023—Ahead of the 2024 election, CELIOS highlighted the interactions of the three presidential candidates with China. Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, Director of China-Indonesia Studies at CELIOS, stated, “Compared with Anies, Ganjar and Prabowo have more interactions with China.” Prabowo frequently meets with senior Chinese officials to discuss defense partnerships, while Ganjar has signed various regional cooperation agreements with China. Meanwhile, Anies has focused more on building relations with the United States and
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China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Indonesia: how to avoid low investment quality and debt traps?
Jakarta, June 15, 2023— China’s investments in developing countries, including Indonesia, through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have come under intense scrutiny. CELIOS researcher Yeta Purnama stated, “In nickel downstreaming and smelting, coal-fired power plants are still widely used, and their carbon emissions pose a serious danger to communities around smelter sites. This contradicts President Xi’s commitment to halt all new investments in coal-fired power plants outside China.”
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Energy transition polemic in Indonesia: the massive development of captive power plants
Captive coal-fired power plants (PLTUs) are privately owned power plants used exclusively to meet the operational needs of industries. They are usually located in enclosed industrial estates, where public oversight and regulatory scrutiny are limited. Recently, Chinese investors have built many captive PLTUs in Indonesia through the Belt and Road Initiative, even though China committed in 2021, through the Green BRI, to stop building captive PLTUs outside its borders. Projects still under way in Indonesia
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