Indonesia: Primus Inter Pares in ASEAN

Focuses on some of the aspects off Indonesian policy while addressing the Cambodian problem, as a member of ASEAN. The Indonesian policy towards the situation in Cambodia was dictated by the basic distrusts with which Jakarta viewed China. It saw, on the contrary, the Hanoi regime as nationalist first, and a communist later. Consequently, Indonesia adopted a policy of peaceful solution of the Cambodian problem in keeping with Vietnam’s security interest. Indonesia was aware of the considerable internal disagreement over the threat to regional security. Although Indonesian strategic perspective allowed a more tolerant view of Vietnam’s role, Jakarta placed its prime interest in maintaining ASEAN cohesion and credibility. Therefore, Indonesia over-rode its own misgivings went along with ASEAN in evolving a policy in Combodia. The role played by Indonesia in setting up the JIM gave hope to an otherwise no compromise solution. Indonesian policy in compromise solution. Indonesian policy in Cambodia as a result highlighted the leadership role within the ASEAN. Having played a crucial role in resolving the Cambodian issue, Indonesia emerged even more confident to solve regional disputes. Indonesia has not only been the founding member of the ASEAN but has also emerged to be suitably described as the Primus-Inter-Pares in ASEAN. Definitely, this book will be prove a reliable reference work for the researchers and policy planers in the field.