Indonesia Responds to China: Reciprocal Trade Agreement with US Embodies Free and Active Foreign Policy
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed that the Reciprocal Trade Agreement (ART) between Indonesia and the United States is a bilateral agreement mechanism based on free and active foreign policy and national interests.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang stated that free and active foreign policy is a constitutional mandate, meaning Indonesia’s cooperation with any partner nation, including the United States, must be placed within the context of national interests.
“This does not mean we have strategic alignment towards a certain bloc that could make other nations perceive that ‘if you are with this country, I am threatened’ or ‘if you align with party A or B, then I am threatened,’” Mewengkang said during a media briefing in Jakarta on Friday.
Mewengkang’s statement addressed China’s response to the Indonesia-US reciprocal trade agreement, particularly regarding the possibility that Indonesia might impose similar import restrictions as the United States against other trading partners.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson affirmed that Indonesia seeks to expand partnerships and maintain good relations with all partners, whether the United States, China, or other strategic partners.
Consequently, the ART between Indonesia and the United States should not be viewed as a cooperation measure that would undermine the interests of other nations, especially given that the agreement was concluded within the context of bilateral relations.
“The ART will not change our foreign policy principles. Free and active policy will remain and will continue to be our compass,” Mewengkang said.
“Meanwhile, our bilateral cooperation is an instrument that actually strengthens our efforts to achieve national interests,” she added.
Deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A. Mulachela stated that Indonesia constantly seeks shared interests with any nation through productive bilateral cooperation for respective national benefits.
“Therefore, with both China and the United States, we have shared interests that we attempt to build in order to establish bilateral cooperation,” Nabyl said.
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning, when answering questions from ANTARA reporters during a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday (24 February), stated that economic and trade cooperation should not target any third party.
“China has always stated that mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation among all nations and cooperation in other fields must not target any third party or harm the interests of any other nation,” Mao said in response to questions regarding the Indonesia-US ART.