Indonesia’s Prabowo attends China’s military parade as protests rage at home

Indonesian president makes one-day visit to Beijing for WWII anniversary after skipping SCO summit earlier this week

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday after watching China’s Victory Day parade alongside other world leaders. Photo: dpa

Published: 3:38pm, 3 Sep 2025Updated: 9:30am, 4 Sep 2025

Despite a deadly anti-government protest raging across his country, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stood overlooking Beijing’s Tiananmen Square watching China’s grand military parade with a group of world leaders.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his appreciation to Prabowo for the visit later on Wednesday, and affirmed support for Prabowo’s governance, which had been shaken amid the ongoing protests.

“President Prabowo overcame difficulties to attend the event in China, demonstrating the importance he attaches to China-Indonesia relations and the sincere friendship between the Indonesian and Chinese peoples,” Xi said during their bilateral meeting, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

He added that China supported the “swift restoration of order and stability” in Indonesia, as well as its growth and development.

Earlier this week, when Prabowo decided to skip the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the ministry said it “respected” Jakarta’s decision.

Prabowo joined other world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, at the Victory Day military show to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

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