Why China and U.S. Need Prabowo's Indonesia | Taiwan Talks EP478

In August, Indonesia planned to inaugurate its as yet unfinished new capital city. "Nusantara" lies 1,400 kilometers northeast of Jakarta, which is sinking under the effects of climate change and policies related to overpopulation. It’s not the only reason countries around the world are watching Indonesia, which connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans. As Southeast Asia's most populated country, with 280 million residents, Indonesia is also the world's third largest democracy. Outgoing President Joko Widodo has focused on bringing an economic transformation to his country that his successor Prabowo Subianto has vowed to carry on. Why are both China and the U.S. investing billions into the country, and why does Indonesia hold the balance of power in Asia?

Our guests:

Kristy Hsu
Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research ASEAN Studies Center Director

Herlin Chien
National Pingtung University of Science and Technology College of Humanities and Social Sciences Professor