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of project in which area of Indonesia needs maritime infrastructure and have suficient
economic potentials to be developed. Chinese government has not yet received
any proposal with prospect and budget estimation from Indonesian government.
China is ready to assist and endorse Chinese investors to participate in Indonesian
maritime infrastructural projects, but there is no suficient information about the projects.
In this perspective, China has actually been waiting for communication and coordination
with Indonesian counterparts to assist infrastructure development projects that
will deinitely converge with Chinese MSR initiative.
If, or when, the implementation of maritime infrastructure development in
Indonesia is operational and parallel with implementation in other countries and
regions, integration in the Indo-Paciic region is achievable. The remaining problem for
Indonesia is the state’s aspiration to maintain leadership in the region. Indonesia has been
considered by many as the leader in the Southeast Asian region and the government
meant to keep it that way. However, the question is, would it still possible under
Chinese leadership in the Indo-Paciic economic integration, Indonesia become
the leader in the region? What kind of power structure will be generated in the region under
Chinese initiative and others’ responses?
The answer lies on the nature of the geopolitical architecture and the nature of
Chinese diplomacy. With power contest between US and China, and others careful
responses to the two, Chinese leadership would be balanced by other states, including
the US and Japan. The trend in the global politics is toward multipolar or non-polar power
structure.
10
China has also been showing consistency in “peaceful rising” diplomacy,
although showing also cautiousness by consistency in increasing defense budget.
Indonesia’s role to balance between the two camps in the regional integration may provide
10 Rizal Sukma, statement in a Focused Group
Discussion FGD conducted by National Planning and Development Agency Bappenas RI in October 2013.
great opportunity for Indonesia for greater contribution in the regional balance of power.
E. CONCLUSION
If implemented succesfully, the MSR initiative would also mean deepening and
widening regional economic integration to include Indo-Paciic region. This result is in
line with both Indonesia and China’s regional policy. In the context of regional balance of
power, problems arise from power contest between US and China. Here Indonesia can
swiftly play between the two powers and take the most from the balancing or rebalancing
acts, just like how it has been playing since Suharto’s leadership. However, if Indonesia
seeks to actively contribute to shape the form of regional order in the midst of China-US
contention, for whatever form, a constructive policy and active diplomacy are needed.
REFERENCES Books and Articles
1. Yale, William, “China’s Maritime Silk Road Gamble”, The Diplomat
, April 22, 2015.
2. Eyler, Brian, “China’s Maritim Silk Road is All About Africa”, retrieved from http:
www.eastbysoutheast.comchinas- maritime-silk-road-africa, on June 23,
2015.
3. Ma, Debin, “The Great Silk Exchange: How the World was Connected and
Developed”, in D. Flynn, L. Frost, and A.J.H. Latham eds., Paciic
Centuries: Paciic and Paciic Rim Centuries in the 16th Century
, London: Routledge, 1998.
4. Szczudlick-Tatar, Justyna, “China’s New Silk Road Diplomacy”, PISM Policy
Paper No. 34 82, December 2013. 5. Gindarsah, Iis, and Adhi Priamarizki,
“Indonesia’s Maritime Doctrine and Security Concerns”, RSIS Policy
Report, April 9, 2015. 6. Kraska, James, Maritime Power and
the Law of the Sea, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.
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7. Roe, Michael, Maritime Governance and Policy Making
, London: Springer, 2015.
8. Arrighi, Giovanni, Takeshi Hamashita, and Mark Selden eds., The Resurgence
of East Asia: 500, 100 and 50 Year Perspective
, London: Routledge Curzon, 2003.
9. Kosandi, Meidi, “Shifting Paradigms and Dynamics of Indonesia-China
Relations: Towards the Best Use of Theoretical Eclecticism”, Asian
Politics and Policy , Vol. 5, No. 2, April
2013.
Internet Sources
1. “Maritime Silk Road”, retrieved from http:www.chinahighlights.com
travelguidemaritime-silk-road.htm on 11 December 2015.
2. Trading Economics Website, http:www. tradingeconomics.com.
3. “China should Detail MSR Projects to Get India’s Support”, retrieved from http:
www.outlookindia.comnewsarticle china-should-detail-msr-projects-
to-get-indias-support906917 on 15 December 2015.
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RE-UNDERSTANDING BORDER AREA AS THE COMMON SPACE FOR INTRA STATES
Wahyuni Kartika Sari
wahyunikartikasariyahoo.com Lecturer of International Relations - Faculty of Social and Political Sciences – University of
Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta
Abstract
In general, border was widely understood as the line between two states. The existing interests within that border area was therefore the representation of two states’ interests. Any problems which occured
in regards to the border area had potential inluences in the two neighborhood states. This writing aimed to reveal the fact that the problems and interests in the border area could not only be the problem of the
two neighborhood countries but also the external actor such as other states who had no overlapping border. This writing proposed the concept of common space as the strategic action to overcome any
different perspective about border. A space managed together, in either planning or implementation, is hoped to minimize a number of conlicts in the border area. In addition, this concept is also expected to
strengthen the relationship between the two neighborhood states and the external actors holding the mutual interests. Therefore we call it as the coomon space fot intra states
Keyword : common space, border area, border problem
INTRODUCTION
Border area often leads to the complex problems. Some of the potential problems
happening are illegal migration, disintegration threat, conlict of natural resources ownership,
and so on. Mostly, border conlict is often triggered by problems of understanding the
territorial border, or any states’ claim over particular area since the exact border remains
unclear.
Apart from that, Indonesia has been recently trying to change its perception and
policy in the border area. Security approach that used to be applied is no longer relevant
now. Through the newly applied Prosperity Approach, the border area would therefore
be the at main forefront. Also, there expected to be new policies in order to overcome the
border problem.
By analysing the border understanding as the exact border between two
neighborhood states, we would therefore understand whether or not the problems and
interests in the border only belong to the two neighborhood states. Or, do other states have
interests within? If the latter happened, the existing border diplomacy do not only need a
bilateral effort but also a multilateral effort. This writing aimed to portray an essential
understanding of border to the states in search of potential alternatives solution of any border
problem, more speciically with the case studies of Indonesian border with its neighbor,
Malaysia and Australia. The stakeholders might have different perspectives about
border. This circumstance could therefore lead to the different approach of undertaking
actions in regards to the border. This writing also proposed the concept of common
space as the strategic action to overcome any different perspective about border. A
space managed together, in either planning or implementation, is hoped to minimize a
number of conlicts in the border area and to accomodate all interests. In addition, this
concept is also expected to strengthen the relationship between the two neighborhood
states and the external actors holding the mutual interests.
UNDERSTANDING BORDER, HOW TO SET BORDER, AND ITS
IMPLEMENTATION IN INDONESIA
Border is one of the most important
