The Implications of Changing Maritime Security GeoStrategic Landscape of Southeast Asia Towards Indonesia’s “Jokowi” Contemporary Foreign Policy

This study intends to expose Indonesia’s national interest and foreign policy response towards the waning power of the United States (US) and the rise of China’s power and dominance in Southeast Asia. It then finds that Indonesia's core national interest is to defend its offshore territorial integrity bordering to South China Sea, potentially encroached by China. Also, the policy response has been about redefining its foreign policy, moving from Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration’s focus on centralizing ASEAN to deal with conflictual dynamics US-China relations in Southeast Asia, towards establishing a more nationalistic foreign policy approach branded as Global Maritime Fulcrum, exposing a hedging strategy that combines balancing and engagement strategy towards China. Through balancing strategy, Indonesia still maintains defensive-careful behaviour towards China's assertiveness in the region. Meanwhile, through engagement strategy, Indonesia cooperates with China through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), expected to provide financial assistance for the realization of Global Maritime Fulcrum’s infrastructure projects.