The cost of China’s section of the venture and negative local sentiment towards Beijing all play a part, as do confrontations in the Natuna Sea.

The country’s remote, isolated islands offer a perfect hiding spot for the coronavirus to fester if the Jokowi government fails to act swiftly enough.

The government’s careful attitude towards cannabis is not wrong. But it should be flexible to consider if marijuana can meet the medical needs of Indonesians.

Now that there are two confirmed cases, Indonesia needs to ensure its agencies are on the same page, follow WHO recommendations and improve transparency to prevent the epidemic from escalating.

Jakarta put 238 of its citizens evacuated from Wuhan into quarantine on the Natuna Islands without telling local authorities or residents it was making the move.

Despite seeing solid economic growth over the past decade, Indonesia still cannot meet the food needs of nearly 20 million people.

Indonesia’s health care system has flourished because of reforms, but the country’s pharmaceuticals sector faces a price squeeze because of the high cost of raw materials.

Indonesia recently forced Chinese fishing vessels from its Natuna islands, as it strengthened relations with Japan. But how will these closer Japanese ties help Indonesia face off against China?

In just one year, WWF Indonesia identified 2,500 adverts on Facebook and 2,207 ads on Instagram that were selling either animals or their body parts.

With a blossoming economy and strategic location, the archipelago has much to offer Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitious plan to grow global trade.