Indonesia protests: Prabowo cancels China trip, Beijing issues security warning
Chinese embassy urges citizens to avoid crowds as demonstrators take to the streets in several cities
“[Citizens and agencies should] improve security precautions, closely monitor local developments, minimise non-essential outings, steer clear of protest crowds and areas, and avoid visiting crowded locations,” the embassy said in a social media post on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, Indonesian State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said “domestic dynamics” had prompted President Prabowo Subianto to cancel his planned trip.
Prasetyo, who is also the presidential spokesman, said Prabowo wanted to “monitor the situation directly, as well as to lead and find the best solution”.
“Therefore, the president apologises to the Chinese government that he could not attend the invitation,” the minister said in a video.
Prabowo had originally planned to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Sunday and Monday, and then the Victory Day military parade in Beijing on Wednesday.
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