| View Comments (). Think about it from the perspective of a furniture exporter, he said. The adviser had stumbled upon an important lesson: if you want to understand Jokowi the politician, you must understand Jokowi the furniture maker. Bens position was supported by the Lowy Institutes Engaging Asia Project, which was established with the financial support of the Australian Government. Remember the adage that generals always fight the last war? The first challenge, which the Foreign Secretary has started to address, is to increase highlevelpolitical engagement with Indonesia. One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. 1. He chose a foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, who had a lower profile than her SBY-era predecessors. As the Financial Times correspondent in Jakarta from 2012 to 2016, Ben Bland covered Jokowis campaign for governor of Jakarta, and his subsequent scaling of Indeed, the Indonesian economy has been trundling along with a growth rate of 56%, about half that of countries such as China and Japan in their high-growth periods. Ben started at the BBC an incredible seven years ago. However, as he approached his debut on the international political stage at the East Asia Summit in Myanmar in November 2014, his foreign policy advisers were eager for him to make a splash. As an adult, I feel proud of it and want to celebrate and highlight a part of my background that has such a big influence in shaping who I am.. He has cancelled several foreign trips at late notice because of domestic political difficulties and, when he does go overseas, he can be a temperamental traveller. Despite strong electoral support from Papua, Jokowi continues with the ineffective efforts to use security forces to crush separatist rebels. Something went wrong, please try again later. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. 4. At the Lowy Institute, he also wrote analysis papers examining the state of Indonesian democracy and the potential for the Australia-India-Indonesia trilateral relationship, among other research projects. Stay informed with the latest commentary and analysis on international events from experts at the Lowy Institute and around the world. If the situation in the South China Sea escalates, then the cost of insurance for sea freight will rise, and it will be bad for their international business. bend (one's) ear. To talk to someone for a long time, usually causing the listener to become bored or annoyed. Jokowi, as the president is known, is a fascinating personality a man who leapt from being a furniture maker to city mayor (of Solo and Jakarta) and then on to lead Indonesia. You can see more of Ben Bland on Youtube by just searching for "Ironically Bland". 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Why spend valuable diplomatic capital on a problem that did not affect Indonesia directly? The bilateral trade and investment relationship is under-developed so thereshould be plenty of opportunities for growth. Jokowi did mention the need for "maritime diplomacy" and international co-operation to reduce the risk of conflict in the South China Sea and beyond. Jokowi, pictured with his wife, Iriana, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan, is interested in attracting investment and that has shaped his relationship with Beijing.AP. Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with. 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And while a demographic youth bulge can create a demographic dividend, Indonesia is wasting its opportunity by not creating enough jobs. (As if talking so much that the other person's ear is moved back.) I am the Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, a leading internationalthink-tank based in Sydney. The last few years have brought historic challenges for multinational companies. Indonesia has too often been overlooked in London, partly because ofa lack of historical engagement and partly because it is a large and difficult place to do business. As well as understanding the opportunities, the British government needs to be clear-eyedabout the risks in Southeast Asia, where there are few truly like-minded nations. But the concept was not fleshed out. It was a genuine reflection of how he sees the world. It is partly a function of Indonesias size, its strategic location in the midst of key global shipping lanes and its history of, at times, demonstrating leadership potential. However, that did not prevent Western nations including the United States and Australia from erroneously framing it as a signal of Indonesian intent to stand up in the world, just as they had done with the global maritime fulcrum. President Joko Widodo had nothing to gain domestically in calling a special summit. It took only a short while, however, for complaints to emerge. Recently, he has shown a renewed enthusiasm for bilateral trade agreements, signing one with Australia in early 2020 after years of arduous negotiations. Lowy Institute. Southeast Asia, at the geographical heart of the Indo-Pacific, is the region where there ismost to play for, and most at stake, for the UK and its allies and close partners such as theUS, Australia and Japan. Early in Joko Widodos presidency, Chinas assertive behaviour in the South China Sea presented him with one of his first major foreign policy challenges. The lack of a concerted and comprehensive global and regional response to the pandemicalso bodes ill for another intractable collective action problem facing Southeast Asia: climatechange. Ben initially teased the news on Instagram as he wrote: "Something VERY exciting is happening for the first time tomorrow hence the massive grin!". But their personalities, predilections and peccadillos are largely established well before they get to power. Both the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong democracy movement are settling in for a long and painful struggle. Done correctly, therefore,enhanced engagement with ASEAN, as an organisation, and Southeast Asian governments,in their own right, should be mutually reinforcing. Bending over should not cause any ear pressure or pain. bend ear phrase. Bland highlights many of Jokowis actions which have undermined Indonesias already flawed democracy notably, diluting the nations anti-corruption agency, creating his own family political dynasty, and his appeasement of conservative Islam and intolerance and of violence towards religious minorities and the LGBT community. Australia even withdrew its ambassador after Jokowi signed off on two of its citizens being put in front of the firing squad. There are few quick wins in Southeast Asia and the UK faces many risks as well asopportunities in the region. The UK, therefore, needsto leverage its existing capital if it is to keep pace with rivals and, hopefully, become a moreimportant partner for the region. Ben Bland's new book on Jokowi will be released next week.. WebBen Bland paints an insightful and intriguing portrait of Indonesia's leader in his new book, Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the struggle to remake Indonesia. Athletic, trim, and ears that you just want to grab as he goes down on your thick, uncut But the UK has much to offer as a partner and an important roleto play, alongside others, in helping Southeast Asia to overcome the challenges that it faces. What have we learned so fShow morear, and how can we apply those lessons to make sure we dont sleepwalk into yet another war? A more careful examination of his views and habits would have left them disabused of that notion. Absolutely dire. But as I reached the end, I was yearning for more of his views on what could happen next in the Indonesia story. Many analysts had expected great things from the Indonesian economy. A curated selection of our very best long reads. In 2015, Jokowi authorised the execution of more than a dozen drug traffickers, many of whom were foreign citizens, despite concerns about the impact on international relations. It comes after Ben joined BBC Breakfast as a business correspondent, with Naga Munchetty and Jon Kay left thrilled by the big news - and fans were just as excited. Watch FPs Ravi Agrawal in conversation with two of the contributors to the magazines cover story, Anne-Marie Slaughter and retired Gen. David Petraeus, as they reflect on whats surprised themand how to prevent future wars. The ASEAN Outlook on the IndoPacific, which was adopted in 2019, was little more than a restatement of ASEANs main principles: peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international law and, most importantly, non-interference in other nations internal affairs. That prompted me to think about my name and whether I should change it for clarity and to avoid confusion.. He is more interested in attracting financial assistanceand China has not disappointed as it is now financing many infrastructure projects. But Southeast Asiangovernments are determined to try to capitalise on US-China competition by securing moreeconomic concessions from both sides. Delivered Friday. While Southeast Asian postings have not typically been seen as a top priority, the FCDOneeds to ensure that it develops more diplomats with extensive regional experience andcarves out more time for them to undertake language study. And while foreign investment has helped power ahead economies such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, Indonesia still sees it as a tool of colonial oppression, according to Bland. ), and just sounds absolutely terrible. WebThe Bent Ears, Del Norte, Colorado. And it is the best way tosupport Southeast Asian nations sovereignty and independence. WebView the profiles of people named Ben Bland. Lowy Institute. A fluent English speaker, he was genuinely interested in trying to make Indonesia influential on the global stage, assisted by his eloquent and high-profile foreign ministers, Marty Natalegawa and Hassan Wirajuda. And what happens if the United States and China continue down a path of decoupling? As China escalated its struggle with its south-east Asian neighbours for control of the regions rich fishing grounds and reserves of oil and gas, there were some initial signs that Jokowi would take a more resolute stance. Balancing national security and national prosperity a range of views and the call for a range of resources. I am also anactive participant in Track 1.5 and Track 2 dialogues with Southeast Asian counterparts. The British government should focus on economic cooperation with Indonesia,people-to-people links and support for civil society. Webbend someone's ear. Keep up with the world without stopping yours. Thisshould be supported by deepening the UKs strategic conversations and cooperation onSoutheast Asia with other important partners such as the US, Australia, the EU and Japan. EastEnders and Waterloo Road pulled from BBC One tonight, Someone played 'porn noises' as a prank live on BBC during Wolves vs Liverpool, Ken Bruce quits BBC Radio 2 after 31 years - but don't worry, he's taking PopMaster. 30. 40. Lastly, the FCDO needs to do more to help build a broader community of experts engaged inSoutheast Asia. But it is important that the UKgovernment sees ASEAN Dialogue Partner status as the price of entry to enhancedengagement with the region, rather than a diplomatic prize that can be banked andforgotten about. 37. Stay updated on the topics you care about with email alerts. How does industry define morality? someone else chipped in. But in not failing, he succeeded. That will require more personnel, more expertise and more financial resources. Economic diplomacy, encompassing development cooperation but focused on boostingtrade and investment, should be a major focus. However, he later followed SBYs lead in implementing an unofficial moratorium on executions to stem the outside pressure he was generating. More likely is that jockeying between the two great powers makes it even harder for ASEANto adopt a cohesive response to shared challenges; or that growing economic linkagesbetween China and its neighbours in Southeast Asia create a path dependency that leavesSoutheast Asia enmeshed in a Beijing-dominated sphere of influence. 23. Indonesias south-east Asian neighbours, meanwhile, were mostly turning inwards as they too faced intractable domestic problems. The panelists included Anne Richards, CEO of Fidelity International; Carmine Di Sibio, CEO of Ernst & Young; Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore; and Lubna S. Olayan, chair of the executive committee of Olayan Financing Company. His research focuses on the nexus of politics, economics and international relations in Southeast Asia, The journalist has explained that he will now use the name Ben Boulos in his professional and daily life, and has changed his name across his social media accounts. @SanaSaeed Lakeside - All the Way Live Yarborough & Peoples - Dont Stop the Music Bootsy - Id Rather Be with You Bone Crusher - Never Scared 3 6 As Bland quite rightly points out, Jokowi has no time for great power politics. "Whats the point of making friends if we are always on the losing end?". Jokowi has been nationalising some of the countrys biggest energy projects, and prioritising the development of state-owned enterprises, many of which are badly managed and riddled with corruption. He was obviously more worried about Indonesias own separatist movements, notably in Papua. 29. He was also implicitly criticising the approach of his predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who adopted a policy of "a thousand friends and no enemies" or "a million friends and no enemies", depending on how affable he was feeling. Delivered Thursday. The idea would later be exalted by foreign governments from the United States to China as a kind of manifesto for Indonesia to play a much bigger role in the increasingly thorny diplomacy of the region. He cheekily added: "(*creative licence may have been used in this description)". Securing ASEAN Dialogue Partner status is a great opportunity to build on the UKs existingstrengths as a partner for Southeast Asian nations. http://loopers.co/ Ben has a twenty-year career split between London and Belfast, working within agencies, small-to-medium size businesses, NGOs, and as a freelancer. 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