Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Indonesia
Relationship assessment
Broad strategic and economic cooperation coexists with recurring maritime friction near the Natuna Islands.
People's Republic of China toward Indonesia
+15China has pursued strategic and economic cooperation with Indonesia, including investment in the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway. Chinese vessel activity in waters near Indonesia’s Natuna Islands has also generated recurring disputes over maritime rights and China’s claims.
Indonesia toward People's Republic of China
+20Indonesia has cooperated with China on strategic and economic initiatives, including the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway. It has also rejected China’s claims in waters near the Natuna Islands and challenged Chinese vessel activity there.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship combines substantial strategic and economic cooperation, exemplified by major infrastructure investment, with an enduring maritime disagreement around the Natuna Islands and competing claims in the South China Sea. Neither feature fully displaces the other in the bilateral relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China and Indonesia maintain a broad strategic and economic partnership, including cooperation on infrastructure and investment. The Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway is a major bilateral project. Relations are also marked by recurring maritime friction near Indonesia’s Natuna Islands, where Indonesia rejects China’s claims and has challenged Chinese vessel activity.
Areas of tension
- Chinese vessel activity and competing maritime claims near Indonesia’s Natuna Islands
- Indonesia’s rejection of China’s claims in the South China Sea
Key developments
China and Indonesia elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The Jakarta–Bandung high-speed railway, a major project involving Chinese investment, began passenger service.
Major uncertainties
- The extent and implementation of bilateral investment and infrastructure commitments vary across projects.
- The durability of economic cooperation alongside maritime disputes is uncertain.