KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia must strengthen its domestic resilience and avoid overdependence on any single country, even as it continues to cultivate ties with China, according to international relations expert Teuku Rezasyah. 

Speaking at the seminar Reflection 2025: China, Southeast Asia, and Indonesia in Jakarta on Monday, Rezasyah emphasized that bilateral relations should be conducted “in a civilized manner, based on law and mutual respect.”

Rezasyah noted that Indonesia’s relationship with China stretches back thousands of years, underscoring China’s significant role in the country’s history. Yet he cautioned against excessive reliance on one partner. “Indonesia is too large to be the tail of any nation,” he remarked.

He stressed that Indonesia must engage with all countries, including China, through respectful cooperation grounded in sovereignty and territorial integrity. Such synergy, he argued, should be built on mutual recognition of these principles.

Rezasyah also highlighted the importance of learning from China’s achievements in governance, anti-corruption measures, and the integration of government and society. “This is a major challenge we must address domestically, so that China and others will hold us in higher regard,” he said.

On trade, Rezasyah pointed to the dominance of Chinese products in Indonesia’s domestic market and urged the government to strengthen local industries. He called for greater support to ensure Indonesian products are embraced by domestic consumers.

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which account for roughly 80 percent of Indonesia’s economy, deserve particular protection, he added. “The government must take sides with MSMEs. They are entitled to protection under the constitution, which mandates safeguarding the entire Indonesian people and homeland,” Rezasyah explained.

He further urged that MSMEs be trained, educated, and provided with easier access to intellectual property rights, as well as expanded networks abroad to enable more competitive exports. ***