FPCI Virtual Public Forum on Assessing the Present and Envisioning the Future of ASEAN-China Relations On Friday, 4 September 2020, Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia
In less than three months away, Americans will decide who their next president will be. With so much at stake, this year’s election will map out the country’s stance on democracy, liberal international order, and most importantly, determine the recovery of a nation that has been stricken with economic, public health, and social crises.
From the past few months, tension in the South China Sea has been rising. On July 13, 2020, the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a press statement reaffirmed the United States’ commitment in the Indo-Pacific and rejected Beijing’s claims on the offshoring of resources in most of the South China Sea. Secretary Pompeo noted that the PRC has been “bullying” Southeast Asian claimants like the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. On the other side, the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian called out the United States for its “intensified meddling” in the South China Sea maritime disputes, and accused the US as using the South China Sea issue as a “geopolitical game. In the middle of China and the United States’ disputes, Indonesia just recently conducted a four-day exercise in the area, which was noted by observers as a “major show of force” against Chinese claims to the area and for CCG vessels that have repeatedly trespassed Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Over the past 3 years, Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) has actively kept track on China-related issue by providing a platform for a regular discussion among seating/former government officials, experts, academicians, and practitioners to gather and discuss important and strategic issues surrounding the Indonesia-China relations through our informal circle group
namely FPCI China Policy Group (CPG).
FPCI would like to thank the EU Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Igor Driesmans, for his insightful and detailed presentation on the European Union’s history and establishment, its interest and values, as well as its multilateralism agenda during the 4th #FPCIAmbassadorialLecture that was held on Monday, August 10th, 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had huge economic, social, and political implications in Southeast Asia and around the world. Additionally, economic instability in Southeast Asia is intensifying and prolonging geo-political upheavals, with disputes becoming more unpredictable as states struggle to control the pandemic.
The OECD Economic Outlook published this June revealed that an unprecedented collapse in the first half of this year due to the novel coronavirus outbreak caused an almost 13% decline in global GDP. This was a far cry from the more optimistic interim prediction of 1.5% that was projected back in May 2020.
On July 20th, 2020, FPCI and the Delegation of the European Union to Indonesia conducted the 3rd FPCI Ambassadorial Lecture with H.E. Vincent Piket. The Ambassador gave us insights and updates on Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The impact of the COVID-19 to the national and global political, economy, health, and social landscapes have been dominating many discussion sessions lately, but to date, minimal attention has been directed towards the issue of security, particularly in regard to terrorism and other forms of violent extremism. There are, in fact, emerging waves of new cases related to acts of terror across the globe. Over the past following weeks, researchers and practitioners have been voicing out their concerns about a crack the pandemic may open to terror groups that seek to advance their causes. One researcher alerts that “terrorism is likely to morph into new shapes and forms. Terrorist groups have positioned themselves to exploit the opportunities of a post-COVID-19 world.”
Ambassadorial Lecture with H.E. Vincent Piket – Part 2: Malang Last Thursday, July 9th, 2020, FPCI conducted the 2nd #FPCIAmbassadorialLecture with H.E. Vincent Piket, Ambassador
In collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in Indonesia, FPCI is conducting a series of Ambassadorial Lecture with H.E. Cameron MacKay, Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia.
President Trump’s Middle East Peace Plan revealed in January this year significantly favors Israel, with a ‘take it or leave it’ deal that leaves the Palestinians completely out of the discussion. It involved a United States-backed annexation plan of the West Bank that may take place as soon as July 1st. The plan also declared that Jerusalem will ‘remain Israel’s undivided capital.’ East Jerusalem, also claimed by Palestine to be the capital of their future state, has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East War.
In collaboration with the European Union Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, FPCI is conducting a series of Ambassadorial Lecture with H.E. Vincent Piket, Ambassador of the European Union to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.
This FPCI Ambassadorial Lecture series with H.E. Cameron MacKay, Ambassador of Canada to Indonesia, aims to provide more understanding on the present and future relationship between Indonesia and Canada. The lecture series will specifically cover issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic that is now infecting both Indonesia and Canada.
The Road to Paris Peace Forum 2020: Calling for Innovative Projects in Response to a COVID-19 World The Paris Peace Forum (PPF) was born in
The global outbreak of the novel coronavirus has led to the deaths of hundreds and thousands of lives globally. Currently, stay-at-home practices are the best way of curbing the number of infections. Finding a vaccine is ultimately the number one weapon to fight this pandemic.
The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic gives a new challenge to the global health system and a test to the United Nations member states commitments in protecting and empowering women in society. UN Women reveals that the economic impact of the COVID-19 is affecting women disproportionately and differently than men. The imposed social restrictions or even complete lockdowns in some countries have been affecting minority groups, informal workers and women-led small businesses in varying degrees, from having to balance between the new normal of taking care of their families while also working from home, to simply not having the luxuries to do so at all.
COVID-19 pandemic is not only a global health crisis, it has challenged the current state of our democracy. While both Indonesia and South Korea are countries that have been promoting democratic values in its socio-political system, this unprecedented COVID-19 has grown more concerned whether the pandemic has become the cover for the current political leadership’s authoritarian instinct and intent. Both governments have different containment policies and measures in combating COVID-19 and has also resulted in a dissimilar effect on the ground. This condition has sparked questions of whether democracy is the best form of government in handling the pandemic and how well kept are the values of democracy during the pandemic globally and particularly in both countries? What containment policies might be considered as authoritarian and has it significantly impacted citizens’ freedom of rights and expression?
The Jakarta Forum 2020 will be held on Friday, 29th of May 2020 at 09:00-11:00 GMT+7. This Forum aims to discuss the state of relations between ASEAN member countries and China during this time of duress for all and how to further develop cooperation at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and envision the relationship after this health crisis ends.
Our oceans are under the threat of climate change — marked by damage to coral reefs in various parts of the world and ocean acidification. Humans have played a large part in sea damage through pollution from ships, from land, mining at sea, as well as irresponsible fisheries exploitation.
With the spreading of COVID-19 outbreak, the beginning of the year 2020 has seen a critical threat to state’s economy. In financial sector, Indonesia is under a threat of flagging rupiah with the currency exchange rate reached 16,625 as of 24 March 2020—the weakest since 1998 crisis. Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani stated that the worst situation of Indonesia’s growth could reach minus 0.4%. The pandemic is also testing political leadership of President Jokowi and his administration. Government’s efforts in dealing with the crisis are being questioned and considered lack of transparency. How has the pandemic impacted the economic and political condition in the last few months? Will political instability follow as caused by health crisis that triggered economy crisis?
The combination of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the oil collapse has created new threats to the economy, along with political instability and poverty in countries reliant on oil sales. The oil price war could be traced back to when OPEC producers tried to negotiate a production cut in line with a global demand slowdown and this condition has led to the oil price crash. With lockdown measures being implemented in 187 countries – bringing mobility to a halt- demand for oil has fallen resulted in the global oil price crash.
Ramadan is known as the time when gatherings and activities such as communal prayers, communal meals or banquets and pilgrimages are conducted every day amongst family, friends and also the mosque community. However, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, governments and the World Health Organizations (WHO) have taken several measurements to ensure a safe Ramadan practice while maintaining social distancing. As a result, physical worships such as communal prayers and religious sermons have been avoided and prayers are conducted at home using virtual alternatives.
On Monday, 11 May 2020, Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) has successfully convened a virtual roundtable discussion involving Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil and several Foreign Ambassadors to Indonesia. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Founder of FPCI. The Governor and Ambassadors had a fruitful discussion on best experiences and practices in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Like all countries around the world, for Indonesia, diplomacy is a critical part of the life-and death efforts to beat the Covid-19 pandemic. This involves a variety of important tasks: evacuating Indonesian citizens from affected areas, coordinating with WHO on Covid-19 knowhow, securing medical equipments including test kits from international manufacturers, pushing an ASEAN response, ensuring effective international cooperation, mitigating the economic impacts of Covid-19, and so on.
The World Economic Forum acknowledges that faith leaders can actually provide such comfort to their communities by turning to religious texts and theology, and encouraging safe practices. However, they also recognize the need for “an immediate and whole-of society approach to prevent the transmission of the virus.” Particularly for some communities, they need an extra measure of help more than ever as well. It is the kind of relief that is not just spiritual relief, but also physical and financial ones. The question is, how can interfaith communities collaboratively work to respond to the pandemic? What are some of the things that been done in this respect all around the world?
COVID-19 has created a global economic crisis that is now hitting countries across the world. Travel, tourism, production, and international trade have been severely disrupted. Businesses across many industries are forced to shut down. International Monetary Fund projected that the world economy is most likely to experience its worst recession since the Great Depression. How has Covid-19 actually been impacting the world and Indonesian economy? How should the Indonesian government mitigate the risks of possible economic depression?
On the 25th of April, FPCI in collaboration with Indonesian Diaspora Network – Global (IDN-G), Asosiasi Dosen Indonesia (ADI), and Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia se-Dunia (PPI Dunia) convened the first Indonesian government briefing on COVID-19 in Indonesia to Indonesian diaspora around the globe.
The current coronavirus pandemic is creating enormous burden on the global economy. It is already inflicting serious damage on supply chains, demand, and financial market, affecting business investment, household consumption, and international trade. The ADB on 3rd April estimated the pandemic could cost the world economy $4.1 trillion or almost 5% of global gross domestic product. With the uncertainty of when will the pandemic end, governments are bracing for the full impact from the coronavirus economic downturn.
On Thursday, 5 March 2020, FPCI Research and Analysis (FPCI RnA) in collaboration with Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) convened a roundtable discussion on “The Global Maritime Fulcrum in Jokowi’s 2nd Term: Enhancing Strategic Clarity and Policy Content”. This topic was raised due to President Jokowi’s vision of Global Maritime Fulcrum as Indonesia’s grand strategy. However, the vision seems to be fading at the beginning of President Jokowi’s 2nd term. It can be seen in how the terms “maritime” and “Global Maritime Fulcrum (GMF)” have become rarely mentioned by the President as well as the Foreign Minister during the 2020 annual press statement.
