RETHINKING THE “ONE CHINA POLICY”: A PATH TO RATIONAL REUNIFICATION

Mutia Hariati Hussin — 2025-12-30

This study re-examines the "One China Policy" by analyzing the potential for China-Taiwan reunification through a non-military framework. Based on the "Unification through Systemic Evolution and Integration" model, this paper argues that China is systematically implementing a gradual strategy to achieve unification without military coercion. This strategy rests on three main pillars. First, comprehensive economic integration has created massive dependence, with China absorbing over 40% of Taiwan's exports, supported by legal frameworks such as the ECFA. Second, a "lawfare" approach and social integration through policies such as the "31 Measures," aimed to erode the boundaries of sovereignty by integrating Taiwanese individuals and entities into China's system. Third, socio-cultural integration is being promoted through an "integrated development demonstration zone" in Fujian, aimed at building "emotional bonds" and "spiritual ties." Although this scheme is designed to make reunification a pragmatic choice, its success is severely limited by the strong democratic identity of the Taiwanese people, who reject the "One Country, Two Systems" model, and the balancing role of the United States.

IDENTITAS DAN KEPENTINGAN DALAM KEBIJAKAN LUAR NEGERI INDONESIA TERHADAP ISU HAK ASASI MANUSIA ETNIS UIGHUR

Angga Nurdin Rachmat — 2025-12-30

The human rights issues of the Uighur ethnic group have become the international spotlight as a result of the policies implemented by China government which are considered to have violated human rights. For Indonesia, the human rights issue of the Uighur ethnic group is a dilemma in itself that has emerged in foreign policy both at the bilateral level towards China and bilaterally through the UN Human Rights Council mechanism. Indonesia's foreign policy is considered ambiguous because it does not reflect Indonesia's position as a member of the UN Human Rights Council and Islamic solidarity. Therefore, this article attempts to discuss by presenting the question why there is ambiguity in Indonesia's foreign policy in responding to the human rights issue of the Uighur ethnic group? The discussion of this question was analyzed using a constructivist approach through identity and interests with the argument that Indonesia's foreign policy towards human rights issues of the Uighur ethnic group was based on personal and social identities, giving rise to differences in interests that must be achieved. The article was prepared using qualitative methods with secondary data used to support research arguments. This paper finds that the foreign policy presented by Indonesia as an alternative has emerged based on its identity as a developing country with an interest in maintaining and maintaining good relations with China and an identity as a global human rights promoter with an interest in avoiding politicization of the UN Human Rights Council by Western countries.

PENYEBARAN SISTEM PERTAHANAN AMERIKA SERIKAT: TINJAUAN MELALUI PERSPECTIVE RATIONAL-CHOICE

Miftah Farid Darussalam — 2025-12-30

This study examines the deployment strategy of United States defense systems to allied nations through the lens of rational-choice theory. Employing rational actor theory framework and non-offensive defense concepts, this research analyzes US foreign policy in distributing defensive weapons systems across European, Asian, and Middle Eastern regions. The analysis reveals that the US implements this policy based on cost-benefit calculations encompassing military, economic, and political interests. Findings indicate that defense system deployment is driven by counter-terrorism objectives, economic interest protection, and maintenance of global political influence. Allied nations accept this cooperation due to shared security interests and the necessity for advanced defense capabilities against regional threats. This policy reflects rational decision-making where perceived benefits outweigh potential costs for all involved parties. The study demonstrates how mutuality of interests, shadow of future considerations, and the number of actors involved shape cooperative security arrangements in contemporary international relations.

KEDEKATAN STRATEGIS INDONESIA DALAM RIVALITAS AS–CINA PASCA COVID-19

Ahmad Anwar — 2025-12-30

This study develops a Proximity Index to measure Indonesia's proximity to the United States and China, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The index integrates three dimensions (economic, military, and diplomatic) to operationalize proximity as a multidimensional index. The time-series analysis reveals structural asymmetry: Indonesia's military ties remain consistently anchored to the US; economic dependence leans more toward China; and diplomacy is a fluctuating driver of the index. The study identifies three inflection points (2019, 2022, and 2024) when diplomatic oscillations (the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia's G20 presidency, and domestic leadership transition) recalibrate overall proximity. The statistical predictions suggest a gradual shift toward China due to strengthening economic integration. These findings also underscore that Indonesia's foreign policy reflects a rebalancing of its composition, rather than a complete restructuring.

CIVIL SOCIETY COUNTER-FRAMING: LICENSING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN INDONESIA’S MINING SECTOR UNDER PRESIDENT JOKOWI

Dewi Masitoh — 2025-12-30

Indonesia is renowned for its abundant natural resources, yet it continues to face challenges in governing them equitably and sustainably, particularly in the mining sector. On 30 May 2024, the government issued Government Regulation (PP) No. 25 of 2024, revising PP No. 96 of 2021 on mineral and coal mining operations. The revision prioritizes religious mass organizations to manage Special Mining Business Permit Areas (WIUPK) to enhance economic empowerment. However, the policy has sparked controversy and created dilemmas in resource governance. This study employs a qualitative approach emphasizing observation and interpretation of social phenomena through exploratory and descriptive strategies. It also mobilizes the concept of counter-framing—constructing alternative narratives to reshape public interpretations by contesting dominant views, including government policy. Civil society has responded with advocacy, campaigns, and research to reveal potential harms and encourage inclusive, transparent dialogue. Accordingly, prudent, participatory policymaking is needed to secure social justice and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: Government Regulation (PP) No. 25/2024, Counter-Framing, Natural Resource Governance, Religious Mass Organizations, Indonesia’s Mining Sector.

DIPLOMASI EKONOMI INDONESIA DENGAN UNI EROPA: STUDI ANALISIS OPERATION RESEARCH MENGGUNAKAN METODE GAME THEORY

Gth Hasto Respatyo — 2025-12-30

This literature describes the economic diplomacy of Indonesia - the European Union in an effort to optimize Indonesia's national interests in the economic sector. Using the quantitative approach of Games Theory according to Abraham Wald and L.J. Savage, Indonesia's economic diplomacy through CEPA in increasing the value of trade and investment. This study aims to determine the most optimal actions related to Indonesian Exports and Imports in determining the priority of commodities to be imported or exported, with the smallest risk.

KETERLIBATAN INDONESIA DENGAN BRICS: ANTARA KEBIJAKAN LUAR NEGERI YANG BEBAS DAN AKTIF SERTA KETERLIBATAN STRATEGIS YANG TERBATAS

Indah Dian Nurani Siregar — 2025-12-30

This study aims to analyze Indonesia’s national interests in its post-2025 membership in BRICS by employing the national interest framework, particularly classical realism. BRICS has evolved into a strategic alliance of emerging economies that exerts significant influence in the multipolar world order. However, to date, there has been no specific study examining Indonesia’s position after formally joining BRICS, either from the perspective of foreign policy or national interest. Drawing on a literature-based method, this research reviews 85 Scopus-indexed journal articles (2020–2025), international media reports, and official government documents. The findings demonstrate that Indonesia’s membership in BRICS reflects a rational effort to pursue vital and strategic interests, such as securing alternative financing through the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), enhancing diplomatic influence in the Global South, and diversifying external partnerships. Within the framework of the “free and active” foreign policy.

PHILIPPINE FOREIGN POLICY ADDRESSING THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE: A RATIONAL MODEL ANALYSIS

Fikriya Husna Inayah — 2025-12-30

This study analyzes the Philippines' foreign policy in the South China Sea dispute during the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. era using the Rational Model. The results show a significant transformation of the Rodrigo Duterte era to a concordance strategy with the United States during the Marcos Jr. era. The failure of Duterte's pro-China approach, which actually increased the aggressiveness of the Chinese Coast Guard and did not provide the expected concessions, became a policy lesson for the Marcos Jr. administration. The concordance strategy was shown through the expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the intensification of military exercises, the modernization of military capabilities, the institutionalization of intelligence sharing, and active participation in multilateral forums. This qualitative research, with data triangulation, reveals that the Philippines' chosen strategy reflects a rational calculation that aligning with the United States provides greater benefits for securing maritime sovereignty and regional stability than confronting China.

DISKURSUS HEGEMONI PASCAKOLONIAL DALAM EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL & PELARANGAN MINYAK SAWIT INDONESIA

Nur Aprilia Megatari Pasang — 2025-12-30

This thesis examines how the sustainability discourse in the European Green Deal (EGD) and Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) policies reproduce postcolonial relations of domination in the palm oil trade between the European Union and Indonesia. Using a postcolonial approach, especially Edward Said’s thougths on orientalism, shows that the sustainability narrative built by the European Union is not neutral, but a hegemonic narrative with internal economic interests that strengthen the position of the West / Global North over East / Global South. Through discourse analysis of the EGD and RED II, it is found that the EU frames palm oil as a high-risk commodity by ignoring the social reality of producer countries. This indicates a hidden discriminatory practice in the sustainability discourse. This finding confirms that there is an active discourse in the EGD, which perpetuates global inequality, and strengthens the relations of domination between the European Union and Indonesia in the postcolonial era.

HAMBATAN SISTER CITY KOTA SURAKARTA INDONESIA DENGAN KOTA ZHUHAI CHINA PASCA COVID-19

Untari Narulita Madyar Dewi — 2025-12-30

The Government of Zhuhai Municipality, China, sent a health aid grant to the Government of Surakarta Municipality, Indonesia, in 2021. The health aid grant was sent to help tackle the escalataion of COVID-19 cases in Surakarta. The renewed status of the Coronavirus outbreak into a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in 2020 requires a collective and also global response. The act of sending health grant was a further continuation of the Sister City partnership initiated in 2019. This article discussed the challenges of Surakarta and Zhuhai Sister City Partnership after COVID-19. The theory of Paradiplomacy and International Cooperation was applied in this article while performing the descriptive analysis benefitting the method of literature study to collect data. Results show that The Government of Surakarta Municipality faces some challenges in its role in the enforcement of Surakarta and Zhuhai Sister City Partnership.