Politics

Prabowo Subianto, left, and his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming, speak to supporters in Jakarta on the evening of Indonesia's presidential election on Feb. 14. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Indonesia election

Indonesian court rejects challenge against Prabowo's election win

Move eases uncertainty, with politician set to become president in October

22 April 2024
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati's drive against corruption and her measures to improve state finances have had positive effects across Indonesia. (Pool via Reuters)
Opinion

Indonesia's next finance minister will have big shoes to fill

Prabowo's spending plans would put fiscal targets at risk

19 April 2024
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, left, meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta on April 18. (Indonesian Presidential Secretariat) 
International relations

Jokowi asks China to help build new capital's transport system

Beijing's top diplomat Wang Yi says '2+2' ministerial platform will deepen ties

18 April 2024
Bangkok's Pratunam clothing market is a popular shopping destination for Indonesians who take consumer items back home to sell. (Photo by Devin Jimie)
Business trends

Indonesia aims for tighter curbs on import practice known as 'jastip'

Personal travel and social media used to sell and promote wares purchased abroad

14 April 2024
Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto, left, meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Apr. 1: Not raising territorial issues could potentially embolden China. (China Daily via Reuters)
Opinion

Prabowo's China policy dilemma evident in Beijing trip

Next Indonesian leader focused on security but keen for development support

8 April 2024
Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto greets supporters during an election campaign rally in February in Jakarta. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Politics

Indonesian scholars fear self-censorship under Prabowo

Analysts warn lack of objective research could deter foreign investors

5 April 2024
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, welcomes Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto at his office in Putrajaya on April 4. (Photo courtesy of Malaysia's Prime Minister's Office)
International relations

Indonesia president-elect Prabowo meets Anwar after Xi, Kishida

Neighbors' relations continue to be close and strengthened, Malaysian PM says

4 April 2024
Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's president-elect and defense minister, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo on April 3. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
International relations

Indonesia's Prabowo visits Japan for balance after his China trip

President-elect wants to strengthen defense and economic ties with Tokyo

3 April 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomes Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia's defense minister and president-elect, to Beijing on April 1. 
International relations

Indonesia's Prabowo meets Xi in rare pre-inauguration China visit

President-elect hopes to cement ties with Beijing, also plans to visit Japan

1 April 2024
Indonesian President-elect, Prabowo Subianto (left), and Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet in China in the coming days. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Yusuke Hinata)
International relations

Indonesia's Prabowo to meet Xi Jinping in China

Incoming president choses China for his first overseas visit after election

29 March 2024
Indonesia's furniture and handicraft industry is facing pressure due to a new European Union regulation aimed at fighting deforestation. (Photo by Nana Shibata) 
23 March 2024
Prabowo Subianto was officially confirmed on March 20 to be Indonesia's next president. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Indonesia election

Prabowo set to keep Indonesia on Jokowi's growth-focused path

Plans for heavy spending from infrastructure to school meals raise fiscal concerns

22 March 2024
Prabowo Subianto, left, along with his running mate, Gibran Rakabuming, react to their supporters on the night of Indonesia's presidential election on Feb. 14. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Indonesia election

Prabowo officially elected as Indonesia's next president, calls for unity

Final results show defense minister won 58% of votes in February polls

21 March 2024
For his 2022 presidential election campaign, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s PR team portrayed him as a youthful "cool uncle" who would bring unity to a divided nation.
Opinion

Prabowo followed Marcos' election playbook, for better or worse

Indonesians now must wait to see if next president takes authoritarian path

15 March 2024
Indonesian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Pahala Mansury speaks during an interview on March 11 in Tokyo. (Photo by Manami Yamada) 
Interview

Indonesian minister urges investment in Jokowi's mineral strategy

Maritime sector could also be part of developing domestic value chains for growth

12 March 2024
PDI-P presidential nominee Ganjar Pranowo greets supporters on Feb. 10: The party's return to opposition could be a chance to reinforce its commitment to democracy.
Opinion

Indonesian democracy will be more protected with PDI-P in opposition

Outgoing ruling party can return to role as advocate for ordinary citizens

11 March 2024
Sri Mulyani Indrawati has served as Indonesia's finance minister since 2016, earning a reputation for steadfast fiscal discipline.
Indonesia election

Prabowo's call on Indonesia's finance chief worries investors

Concerns rise over Indrawati's expected departure under next president

8 March 2024
A woman walks past a McDonald's in Jakarta on Feb. 29: The fast food chain's growth has slackened amid a boycott of Western brands amid the Israel-Gaza conflict. (Photo by Nana Shibata) 
Business trends

Indonesia, Malaysia consumer boycotts hit McDonald's, Starbucks and others

Muslims protest Western brands over perceived pro-Israel stance on Gaza

7 March 2024
Electoral officers in Jakarta count votes from Indonesia's general election on Feb. 14.
Indonesia election

Lawmakers from Indonesia's top party urge probe into presidential vote

Prabowo's likely victory clouded by allegations of abuse of power, coercion

6 March 2024
Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto has promised to provide free lunches to over 78 million students nationwide. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Indonesia election

Prabowo's free lunch plan would bite into Indonesia's budget, analysts warn

Rating agencies say $29bn program could put huge strain on national coffers

1 March 2024
Of the OECD's 38 members, only Japan and South Korea are in Asia.
International relations

Indonesia aims to join OECD within two to three years, minister says

33 countries have expressed support for Southeast Asian nation's accession

29 February 2024
Indonesia's leading presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, left, and his vice-presidential running mate, Gibran Rakabuming, wave to supporters in Jakarta on Feb. 14.
The Nikkei View

Indonesia's next president must not roll back democracy

Progress made over past quarter century should be protected

28 February 2024
Chameleon is the word many analysts have used to describe Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, a former army general. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and AFP/Jiji) 
Opinion

Prabowo must resist temptation to apply more force in Papua

New face of kindness likely to be tested by push for indigenous rights

27 February 2024
Mountain slopes stripped off their flora in New Caledonia. The French territory in the South Pacific is well known for its massive nickel deposits. (Photo by Akira Kitado)
International relations

In EV revolution, resource-rich Global South hopes to turn cash-rich

Bolivia and Indonesia tell Global North to give them a place on the value chain

25 February 2024
Indonesia's accession to the OECD could motivate other ASEAN countries to become members of the group. (Source photos by AP)
International relations

Indonesia's OECD bid enters next stage: 5 things to know

Accession takes 'long time' due to rigorous evaluation, says expert

23 February 2024