He is more interested in attracting financial assistance, and China has not disappointed. He has an MA in Southeast Asian Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London and an undergraduate degree in History from the University of Cambridge. The key to success will be understanding the real challenges of doing business in Indonesia, rather than wishing them away, so thatcompanies, with the support of government, are better placed to overcome them. 22. Despite the deep historical roots of Indonesias contemporary aversion to alliances, some Western officials continue mistakenly to believe that Indonesias warm words signal a desire to become much more engaged in regional and global issues. 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. The best way to help Southeast Asian nations stave offpressure from China is to help make them more resilient in their own right. Stay informed with the latest commentary and analysis on international events from experts at the Lowy Institute and around the world. Many say the Woman, Life, Freedom movement will threaten the regime this year. Why spend valuable diplomatic capital on a problem that did not affect Indonesia directly? I was brought up in the Coptic Orthodox faith one of the oldest Christian denominations in the world and that link to my heritage continues to this day when I attend services that are conducted in a combination of English, Arabic and Coptic. Last August, when the United States passed the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), commentators celebrated the fact that the worlds biggest economy would slash its carbon emissions anShow mored provide massive tax credits to programs investing in clean energy. The UK should put Indonesia at the heart of its intensified engagement with Southeast Asiabecause Indonesia is so important and the UK-Indonesia relationship has so much room togrow. The two also discussed climate cooperation with China, the road to COP28, and much else. I frequently write op-eds and provide expert analysis on Southeast Asia to leading international media organisations including Bloomberg, CNN, the Financial Times, TheGuardian, Reuters and The Washington Post. to talk to someone, perhaps annoyingly. Irans Protests Are Nowhere Near Revolutionary, Washington Might Let South Korea Have the Bomb. 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. 41. He continued: Every name tells a story and I want mine to give a more complete picture of who I am. 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. 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. 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. Indeed, rather than rising to the challenge Jokowi has struggled under the immense pressure. 20. More information on Ben can be found here: http://benbland.me, FutureScreens NIOrmeau Baths18 Ormeau AveBelfast BT2 8HS. BBC Breakfast business correspondent Ben Boulos has announced a huge move in his broadcasting career after making his debut on the morning programme. It took only a short while, however, for complaints to emerge. Ben Bland is the director of the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute. North Korean nuclearization makes a once-taboo option thinkable. Delivered Thursday. 374 likes. He is a partner at a newly-founded innovation practice, Loopers. No British Prime Minister has visited Jakarta sinceDavid Cameron in 2015, although Indonesian President Joko Widodo came to London in2016. BBC Breakfast business correspondent Ben Boulos - best known for appearing alongside hosts like Naga Munchetty, Dan Walker and Sally Nugent - announced the news on social media, Sign up for the Daily Star TV newsletter for the biggest TV news. The presenter looked dapper as ever in a navy-blue suit with a purple tie and crisp white shirt. September 15 Sometimes he gels with his counterparts and ignores his formal talking points, and at other times he reads out speeches in robotic fashion. For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here. I have wondered whether changing from the name Bland is somehow disloyal to the memory of my great-grandmothers wise decision, without which I may not be here. He was obviously more worried about Indonesias own separatist movements, notably in Papua. The West is desperate for new partners in Asia to help it push back against Xi Jinpings China. In early 2020, as the economy showed signs of weakness while still chugging along at 5 per cent growth, Jokowi asked his ambassadors to put "70-80 per cent" of their focus on economic diplomacy. That meant, chiefly, no formal military or security alliances with other nations. Bens fans rushed to the comments section to share in his delight at being back on-screen, with one writing: "Its your duty being in showbiz to use your creative licence!". The FCDO should support more of these. Copy link. Surely that should humble us a bit?, The long shadow of Iraq and its lessons today, Butts the changing shape of beauty standards. Although diplomatic capacity varies across the region, the UK will need to workmore closely with key countries including Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam as theyseek to become more active players on the world stage. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Neoco includes over 240 tools, 50 published guides, 16 case studies and much more. 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. Malaysia lacks a stablegoverning coalition. Helping them solve these will boost prosperity and stability across the region, as well asboosting the UKs reputation. The UK has a very solid base of political, economic and social capital in Southeast Asia uponwhich it can build in the years ahead. They decided on the blandest name possible literally to ensure their survival. The Interpreter features in-depth analysis & expert commentary on the latest international events, published daily by the Lowy Institute, Copyright 2023 Theyre wrong. There are 40+ professionals named "Ben Bland", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. But the concept was not fleshed out. For example, a few years ago, PWC predicted that Indonesia could be the worlds fourth biggest economy by the year 2050. Weekly update on developments in India and its neighbors. Ben initially teased the news on Instagram as he wrote: "Something VERY exciting is happening for the first time tomorrow hence the massive grin!". Early in Joko Widodos presidency, Chinas assertive behaviour in the South China Sea presented him with one of his first major foreign policy challenges. In just nine years, he went from small-town businessman to president of the worlds fourth most populous nation. Keen to coax Jokowi into taking action, one adviser made the case in terms that the President might accept more readily. In Thailand, the military-led government facesregular street protests after cutting off other avenues for dissent. I still speak and understand Arabic conversationally, although I have never learned to read and write the language (it remains an ambition to be tackled sometime). But behind this picture of Jokowi is also a troubling image of Indonesia, the worlds fourth most populous country, with the worlds largest Muslim population. Securing ASEAN Dialogue Partner status is a great opportunity to build on the UKs existingstrengths as a partner for Southeast Asian nations. 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. By Ben Bland Mr. Please, and moving back to London after 14 years, The end of Fortress Australia?, a first birthday for Man of Contradictions, why writing is thinking, and the other love of my life, The UK's Indo-Pacific Tilt, mutual (mis)understanding between Australia and Indonesia, and what Franz Kafka tells us about Hong Kong's legal system, COVID-19 runs rampant in Indonesia, ASEAN's Rorschach test in Myanmar, the long struggle in Hong Kong and the women who changed war reporting, From a royal slipper thrown at Sir Francis Walsingham to Saddam Hussein's non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction, via Napoleon's love of OSINT and, The two faces of Indonesian democracy, Beijing's inevitable squeeze in Hong Kong, and the Washington method in Southeast Asia. It disappoints the optimists and it disappoints the pessimists too.. 8. And what happens if the United States and China continue down a path of decoupling? Jokowi was referring to the founding principle of Indonesias engagement with the world, that it should be "free and active", or bebas dan aktif. But to my mind, the clear message from Blands text is that optimists will be far more disappointed than the pessimists. analyse how our Sites are used. Ben Bland is a research fellow at the Lowy Institute and the author of Generation HK: Seeking Identity in Chinas Shadow and the forthcoming Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia. The British government should focus on economic cooperation with Indonesia,people-to-people links and support for civil society. 38. But their personalities, predilections and peccadillos are largely established well before they get to power. Rather, it should focus on specific issuesand geographic areas in order to make the most of finite diplomatic, development andmilitary resources. Just days after the new President gave the maritime fulcrum speech, he divulged his real feelings about foreign policy on the flight back to Jakarta. Join Facebook to connect with Ben Bland and others you may know. Think about it from the perspective of a furniture exporter, he said. A personal update: after three great years at @LowyInstitute, I'm leaving next month to take up a new role as director of the Asia-Pacific programme at But in not failing, he succeeded. With thelarge developing countries of Southeast Asia struggling to get access to and distributevaccines, this is likely to be a multi-year crisis. 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. Benregularly writes opinion pieces for and provides expert comment to a wide range of international media organisations, including Bloomberg,Foreign Policy, theNew York Times,Nikkei Asiaand Reuters. 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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. Ben Bland shows even pessimists can be gulled by Joko Widodos charms. I have a longstanding interest in Indonesia, having lived inJakarta, studied Indonesian and built relationships with key players across the political andbusiness communities. 1. But Southeast Asiangovernments are determined to try to capitalise on US-China competition by securing moreeconomic concessions from both sides. Done correctly, therefore,enhanced engagement with ASEAN, as an organisation, and Southeast Asian governments,in their own right, should be mutually reinforcing. , FutureScreens NIOrmeau Baths18 Ormeau AveBelfast BT2 8HS to get access to and improve our of. 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