Indonesia faces mounting economic and strategic risks from deepening ties with China, including debt-trap lending, sovereignty threats in the South China Sea, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities from reliance on Chinese technology. The article warns that whilst China's Belt and Road investments promise development, they threaten national independence and regional stability, urging Indonesia to diversify partnerships and prioritise ASEAN unity to protect long-term interests.

Indonesia is pursuing an ambitious goal to eliminate extreme poverty by 2026 through a multi-pronged strategy encompassing expanded social assistance programmes, MSME empowerment, and infrastructure development in underserved regions. The government has already reduced extreme poverty rates to below 5 per cent and believes targeted interventions combining social welfare with economic initiatives can achieve the 2026 target. This initiative underscores Indonesia's commitment to inclusive growth a