## Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto Seeks to Strengthen Ties with Japan and China
Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on April 3rd in Tokyo, following a visit to China. Subianto emphasized his desire to "further strengthen" relations with both countries.
He acknowledged the long-standing friendship and cooperative relationship between Indonesia and Japan, expressing his hope for further development. This meeting comes amidst Japan's efforts to strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations, particularly in maritime security and defense, in response to China's growing military presence.
Subianto, who will succeed Joko Widodo in October, chose Beijing for his first official overseas trip after his February election victory. This move aimed to emphasize Indonesia's commitment to maintaining stable relations with China, despite rising tensions in the South China Sea. During his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Subianto pledged to continue a friendly policy towards China.
China is Indonesia's largest trading partner and has invested heavily in major infrastructure projects. Indonesia has maintained a neutral stance amidst rising tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Kishida welcomed Subianto's visit to Tokyo, highlighting the shared values and principles between the two countries. He expressed Japan's desire to further strengthen cooperation in regional and global issues as "comprehensive and strategic partners." Japan hopes to contribute to Indonesia's development in areas like infrastructure and energy, while also increasing cooperation in security and defense.
This meeting comes just a week before Kishida's trip to Washington for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The leaders are expected to discuss further strengthening security ties.
Later on April 3rd, Subianto met with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara. Both ministers pledged to enhance defense cooperation, including joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, capacity building, and educational programs. Kihara emphasized his commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two maritime nations to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.