Indonesia Highlights

It has only been 17 days after we ring in the year of 2020, but there have been so many things happening around us.

Several cities in Indonesia suffered from flash floods at the beginning of this year with Jakarta being one of the worst affected cities. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has estimated that the flood had cost the capital more than US$ 730 million, or more than 30% higher than the costs paid for the damage from the floods in 2013.

Nurul Fajar Januriyadi of Universitas Pertamina writes that the cost may increase up to fifth fold in 2050 as a result of the climate crisis and Jakarta’s urban development.

After facing nature’s wrath, Indonesia had to deal with threats from China, whose fishing vessels had again trespassed into Indonesia’s water territory around the Natuna Islands.

Yet, Indonesia downplayed this threat. And it is not the first time, Yohanes Sulaiman, associate lecturer of Universitas Jendral Achmad Yani, states.

He argues that Indonesia’s classic move against China derives from the country’s military strategic culture which focuses on domestic threats.

I have also picked up great analyses from The Conversation global editions on the latest incidents around the globe, including bushfires in Australia, US-Iran conflict as well the plane accident related to that conflict.

Ika Krismantari

Deputi Editor Eksekutif

Top articles

A resident sits inside a styrofoam box as he wades through a flooded area in Jakarta in early January. Mast Irham/EPA

Jakarta’s flood costs will increase by up to 400% by 2050, research shows

Nurul Fajar Januriyadi, Universitas Pertamina

Indonesia's capital Jakarta will face escalating flood costs by 2050.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (central) visiting a military base in the Natuna islands, near the South China Sea, Indonesia, January 8, 2020. Agus Soeparto (handout, made available by Indonesian Presidential Palace))/EPA

Why Indonesia keeps sending mixed signals on the Natuna sea dispute with China

Yohanes Sulaiman, Universitas Jendral Achmad Yani

Indonesia's response to China's 2016 incursion into its exclusive economic zone was short-lived. And again, it's sending mixed signals in the Natuna sea dispute.

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