Indonesians have defeated the Mongols in the past, they will defeat them again. China is going to learn the phrase: berjuang hingga tetes darahku yang terakhir- fight until the last drop of blood" the nasty way. China has pushed all of AsEAN into US arms as only a conceited, bloated, self-important, avaricious, superiority-complex imbecile can do. No one wants anything to do with their crappy silk road- Japan's imperial kimonos are made from Javanese wild silk. China needs Indonesia, not vice versa.

This hedging word is never in SE asian words. The right word should be using or making use. US is using SE asian nation against the Chinese ,the SE asians against US, the Chinese against the Us. Each trying to extracts as much from the TTIP and trade and influence.Greedy game.

defend China from Japan was THE biggest mistake ....

Have you talked to the US POWs in Japan camps. Some of them got their liver eaten with Saki.

Very decent article.

It's true that the ASEAN states are perfect examples of this age-old strategy, each of them in a slightly different way. "Putting all eggs in one basket" would be suicidal, as history has shown many times. The additional benefit is that such policies act as a restraint on both Washington and Beijing: If they bully smaller countries too much, they'll lose influence with them.
The power transition in Asia will very probably continue, but who knows...better stay flexible and smooth in all directions.

If Indo looks the history of China involvement with Vietnam or North Korean, Indo should learn from it. When the China has learned the weakness from those countries, they will eventually destroy them. At first, they spent a lot of money for free as well as their labor forces, who actually are the ones they are trying to get risk. They will buy all the leaders. They will send their people to learn how to speak the same language and they will collect all the knowledge with them. Then they will treat you like they do not know anything about you like the assassin training. So beware about China, who are not dump or honest or nice like you used to think.

Indo have learn from others mistake. The recent selection on the chinese rail project is one of them. The EU and Japanese sides all wants to build everything at home and even send their people over to Indonesia to works on the ground. But the chinese bid is different it is what they call a win win one.They only build whatever indonesia cannot built.Send in just some top engineers to helps put the train together.They even help build their factory to produce parts for future use. The african knows so as the south american. This kind of deal is beneficial for both sides. Even the west is trying to copy this model. But they are facing problem in their own economy. One of their greatest problem is that the US holds the patents and copyrights.They will have to pay royalty and is costly. The US uses this to enrich itself and to prevent the technology to goes to undevelope nation. Undeveloped nation must always be poor so that they will have to sell their natural resources. Indonesia have long suffer from this. Indonesia needs a president like Jokowi. The Rupiah is a proof of his good work.Just gives him a few more years, Indonesia will see their dream turns reality.

In this context, all S.E. Asian countries with opposing claims to China, with the exception of the Philippines, utilize "flexible hedging," much like a 2-headed snake; and it proves to be ineffective against an ever aggressive China. At some point, they will have to make a stand.

Quite true,they will have to make a stand that SCS is belongs to the people of asia. All others got no business here. If any outsiders pass by we have to collects a fee and use it to pay for the people in Asia. Especially the Indonesia,philippine, India,pakistan,east timor etc. This will help them and later they will help others.Just remember this superpower will use SEAsia as a war zone.

As Forbes points out, COMMUNIST China is “just about friendless geopolitically,” and one of its few friends is North Korea, the kind of “friend” nobody brags about having As Forbes points out, COMMUNIST China is “just about friendless geopolitically,” and one of its few friends is North Korea, the kind of “friend” nobody brags about having.....

Or, as it is known, colloquially, pussy-footing.

Communist china go to border .Indonesia have to step up military. They will invasion Asia. Japan is hot and far away.But communist china set up strategy for times.Communist china is more dangerous than any country in 1945

In all of the so-called "ASEAN" nations, it is the ethnic Chinese community who drive and manage the business economy. Every now & then, the corrupt rulers wink & nod while the bugis riot & loot Chinese shops.

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is just a kangaroo court. One type of it is "a court held by a legitimate judicial authority who intentionally disregards the court's legal or ethical obligations".
BTW, it is not a court (of law), but a bureaucracy. The word "court" does mislead people to believe it to hold higher legitimacy than it really has. It has nothing to do with but very often being confused with the UN ICJ also situated in Hague, once again "stealing" (by medias with agenda) legitimacy from UN.

As I have said before, non of the other SCS claimants than China did EXIST as a legal state entity at the time when China declared her sovereignty over SCS. IF for the argument's sake there is a dispute, it can only be between China, U.S.A. (Sovereign of Philippine) and/or France (Vietnam), UK (Malaysia), even Japan has a better standing than the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, but it has surrendered its claim as the condition of ending WWII. Again, non of U.S.A., France or UK rejected China's claim back then. So how could some non-existence jump out and make a claim and being admitted into PCA proceeding? That really shows how low PCA has degenerated to be a kangaroo "court", a piece of junk.

No matter how thin you slice it it's still baloney.
China's excessive and illegal claim and actions are the root of all this trouble.
Question is this: is China going to stop or is the US going to give Asia to China?
If China is willing to sacrifice her newfound wealth and strength for the SCS then it's a foregone conclusion.i guess greed has no limits.

You may have given china too much credit. It is still a relative poor country. Should any war were to happens ,China japan philippine se asian countries will suffer. The US will not ,it is untouchable. In fact it will be stronger and richer. All of this countries will have to pay for the war damages.

Pay for war damages? Like Mexico paying for the wall?

I guess this is the new face of Chinese nationalism.irrational,insatiable & illegal.
We Filipinos knew that years ago.

Don't kid yourself ,if you knews years ago, the US will not be kick out and invited back. It is embarassing, but the US is great and forgiving. But don't do it again okay.

Seem disagreement at the International water from Baltic to South China Sea for decades. Never going change push and shove to a point in the playground.

Jokowi is dealing with China from a position of weakness and the Chinese know it.

Jokowi is the most powerful president,even Obama have to pay him a visit.In the past no US president will take Indonesia seriously.

LOL! Obama grew up in J-town so he was going to come back no matter what. Jokowi is weak, a tool of Megawati.

It also show how great Jakarta is.
Any boy here can be a US president.

Traffic and pollution capital of Asia, after stinky Beijing.

Stinky dead rabbit

Lol!

Instead of caring for its people, china is spending a lot of effort causing problems with its neighbors. china is greedy and it will not stop until it controls the world, and who wants a world like that? It would be a total state of corruption. chinese people have a gene for deceit.

The result for Indonesia of being nice to America : East Timor has become an independent state, gold and Uranium in Freeport are loaded into America's ships and coppers are left for Indonesia, Sipadan and Ligitan were taken by common wealth Malaysia. Thank you, America.

Indonesias HEDGING relationship with Communist Chian WILL BACKFIRE on their VERY OWN FAE---Chinas GREED INTEREST CAN NOT RESOLVE by HEDGING but a COMMON ASEAN STRATEGY with SUPPORT of US and Japan--'
If Indonesia GIVE a HAND to POLITBURO, China will ASK for both ARMS and then the WHOLE BODY that Cambodia and Laos are experiencing NOW--

BurAN1LdoRETENTIVE

I think the Philippines strategy to become US' vassal state will backfire worse.

Don't be ridiculous. The Philippines is being forced back into its alliance with the US by a combination of China's actions and its own weakness.

Agree.
We'd rather deal with our internal
Problems but China is acting on its delusion and greed.

Rubbish,
US-Philippines Military strategi had its Share history since WW11.
So stop your Stupidity

I suggest you read thecommonsenseshow.

GIVE the DETAILS of your reply, Do NOT WASTE my time--

ShArEd hISToRy oF nEaRly OnE mIlLiOn FiLiPINoS mUrDeREd tOrTuReD aNd dIsApPeArEd rEsIsTiNg
AmErIcAn iNvAsIoN aFtEr SpAnIaRdS
LoST tHe wAr?
YeA!!

Who caused all these militarization in the SCS? it's none other than China. But China is accusing the US of militarization in the SCS. Some ASEAN countries have step up to upgrade their militaries because of China's assertiveness.

Needs to go to school.

As Forbes points out, COMMUNIST China is “just about friendless geopolitically,” and one of its few friends is North Korea, the kind of “friend” nobody brags about having

Quite true,but the US also do not have any.Just like Trump says,these so call allies only get a free ride. When the US got problem none will defend it.

A World War Super Hero come home and get killed by a thug, it happened before. Your logic is not necessary reasonable.

Mr Wong are you that Chinese foreigner money launderer in the Philippines accused of stealing from the Bangladesh account? You Chinese are really terrible, doing all kinds of crimes all over the world.

No Mr. WONG is just like you as terrible.

"...doing all kinds of crimes all over the world."

Most people will agree that picking fight, have wars around the world, killing innocent people are indeed crimes, no matter what kind of excuses you have.

I think Indonesia has bigger fishes to fry in Indian and Pacific ocean to bother with South China sea.

How can the ambition of a country like Indonesia be so small as to be limited to south china sea?