Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Global South strategic cooperation
- Thread starter Strangelove
- Start date
As noted elsewhere, this article puts too much emphasis on individual factors and not enough on structural ones. The photo op matters much less than the fact that Brazil/US both compete for soybean market share. The comparative advantages of the countries involved do a better job of explaining why China comes out ahead here.
Yes, structural factors favour China in Latin America just like in the rest of Global South. Latin American nations export commodities for inexpensive capital equipment from China.
The only true American superpower is their financial prowess but that too is being challenged by China(thanks to the massive CA surplus).
They will be THE next target of destabilization together with Thailand by the US. Indonesia is an existential threat for Australia, A large Muslim population in their doorstep. Joining AUKUS is not about China for THE Aussies, its about containing and balkanized Indonesia. Irian Jaya is the most vulnerable under belly for them to exploit, while the US seems very interested in the island of Sumatra together with Singapore (common interest align).
China investment in Indonesia Nickel industry create a glut that devastated the Australian mining industry and it also affected the US when the Indonesian restricted the export of raw nickel materials. This project had been on hold because of Ukraine War (remember Campbell PIVOT TO ASIA) BUT under Trump with the anti China hawks in his cabinet, it will be dusted off and implemented during his term.
President Subianto being a former military officer and had been trained in the US knows how the American think, he had experience it first hand when his father in law was pressured to relinquished power. Unlike Marcos who shared the same experience, he came from a sterner stuff having served in the military as a general commanding one of the elite force The KOPASSUS.
What about Thailand? as long as the monarchy exist the collective west will have a hard time implementing a colored revolution. The elites are mostly ethnic Chinese and the Military being the Guardian of the Monarchy will not follow the diktat of the US.
Feb 16, 2024 — From a broader relational angle, Indonesia's success has been Australia's loss. It's alleged flooding of the nickel market has resulted in ...
Jul 14, 2024 — An influx of cheap nickel supply from Indonesia has all but killed off Western Australia's long-running nickel sector.
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He's pro-China on economy but he also want to buy Western equipment like F-15 and Rafale. He used to be close to US, but then so did Anwar Ibrahim and Aung San Suu Kyi before they become close to China, so we'll see.
He is hedging and also the decision had been made by his predecessor. Buying a squadron of F15 will not change much cause they had already taken delivery of SU30 from Russia. So are they doing the BHARAT dance? trying to satisfy everybody with their head shake....lol
Will it work? The US demand absolute loyalty from her vassal, the good thing is Indonesia isn't there yet and will not allow themselves to be vassalized (the founder and sponsor of the Non Aligned Movement). Having different equipment source may affect their military capabilities BUT who will invade Indonesia? like most of the ASEAN countries their military are geared toward internal and maritime security.
He was the defense minister during previous administration, so it was his decision.
antiterror13
Brigadier
his decision but approved by Jokowi
They were vassalized by the US after Suharto got in power via a US backed coup. It was pretty similar to what happened in Chile with Pinochet.
Indonesia is an island nation so they are vulnerable to whoever is the leading maritime power at the time. Because it is an island nation, based on colonial amalgamation, it has quite diverse peoples in it.
It also has a huge population, and plenty of unexplored natural resources, so it could be a top 5 leading economy eventually. But for this massive economic improvements need to continue to happen.