In early 2020, as the economy showed signs of weakness while still chugging along at 5 per cent growth, Jokowi asked his ambassadors to put "70-80 per cent" of their focus on economic diplomacy. WhereASEAN differs is that its Jakarta-based secretariat is deliberately deprived of resources andpower, to ensure that authority and sovereignty resides in national capitals. How does industry define morality? Bland quotes former Indonesian Finance Minister Chatib Basri, who once told him: Indonesia always disappoints. 14. 38. Jokowi duly unveiled this rather woolly concept in Naypyidaw, Myanmars bizarre and empty purpose-built capital, to an audience of world leaders, including Barack Obama, Dmitry Medvedev, Li Keqiang and Shinzo Abe. In just nine years, he went from small-town businessman to president of the worlds fourth most populous nation. 1. I have wondered whether changing from the name Bland is somehow disloyal to the memory of my great-grandmothers wise decision, without which I may not be here. I like to think she would feel happy about that and see my decision as being driven, much like hers, by pragmatism in response to shifting attitudes instead of feeling bound by sentimental obligation to a sequence of letters chosen a century ago., Followers congratulated Boulous on his name change, while his name buddy Benjamin Bland tweeted: Congrats on the new name Ben. Weekly update on developments in India and its neighbors. LELO sexpert Kate Moyle has shared the spicy bedroom crazes that we need to look out for in 2023 but will you be adding any of these trends to your bucket list? Copy link. Non-fiction for kids: big books for little people are great news for publishers, The west looks like a political risk to Asian allies, Dream state: Widodo struggles to build his vision for Indonesia, Beneath Malaysias political battles are older struggles, Five books that explain the Hong Kong protests, Death toll rises as Indonesia cleans up after weekend tsunami, Indonesia tsunami kills 222 and injures hundreds eyewitness footage, Indonesia tsunami kills 222 and injures hundreds. Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called him one of the most important leaders in the world and a cool cat in every respect in his recently published memoir. I am also a non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the ForeignPolicy Centre in London. As China escalated its struggle with its south-east Asian neighbours for control of the regions rich fishing grounds and reserves of oil and gas, there were some initial signs that Jokowi would take a more resolute stance. 11. As the Financial Times correspondent in Jakarta from 2012 to 2016, Ben Bland covered Jokowis campaign for governor of Jakarta, and his subsequent scaling of Indeed, the Indonesian economy has been trundling along with a growth rate of 56%, about half that of countries such as China and Japan in their high-growth periods. BBC journalist Ben Bland changes name to Boulos to celebrate Watch the full interview for insights on how industry thinks about deglobalization, the U.S.-China rivalry, the war in Ukraine, and much more. Nationalism and protectionism were already on the rise when COVID-19 shut down global supply chains. While Indonesia coasted, the contours of power in Asia were shifting dramatically around it. Its almost six oclock so yes, you guessed it, I am very excited. Jokowis ad hoc leadership style exacerbates the weaknesses of Indonesian foreign policy. President Joko Widodo had nothing to gain domestically in calling a special summit. His decision was sparked by constant confusion between him and a former Financial Times journalist in Australia called Benjamin Bland, with Boulos often receiving messages intended for the other Mr Bland. But the UK has much to offer as a partner and an important roleto play, alongside others, in helping Southeast Asia to overcome the challenges that it faces. The FCDO could learn from how Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade hashelped the development of a broad network of non-governmental partners that fosterrelations with Southeast Asia (including the Lowy Institute, where the Southeast AsiaProgram is supported by several Australian government grants). Despite its importance, the region remains woefully under-covered by UKuniversities and think-tanks, with not a single full-time research fellow dedicated toSoutheast Asia at the various leading think-tanks based in London. 44. To quickly boost its capabilities in Southeast Asia, the FCDO should consider moreexperienced hires from outside government, both in London and on post. Captioning the snap, Ben explained that he would be back on BBC World News after not appearing on the programme for some time. Before joining the Lowy Institute,Benwas an award-winning foreign correspondent for theFinancial Times, with postings in Jakarta, Hanoi and Hong Kong and experience reporting across China and Southeast Asia over the previous decade. Evening roundup with our editors favorite stories of the day. In the 1920s, his paternal grandmother (my great-grandmother) decided and convinced my great-grandfather that with violent anti-Semitism on the rise across Europe, it would be wise for them to change the family name of Blumenthal with its overtly Jewish-Germanic links. Have enjoyed my time in Australia & at Lowy, working with an amazing bunch of smart, insightful people." Beyond traditional areas of civil society focus such as the environment, law reform, genderequality and media freedom, the UK should be more active in promoting digital rights anddigital literacy in Indonesia. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. However, that did not prevent Western nations including the United States and Australia from erroneously framing it as a signal of Indonesian intent to stand up in the world, just as they had done with the global maritime fulcrum. Not everyone was sure whether she was worth it though, National park that inspired Avatar has 'floating' mountains and towering cliffs, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province, China, was the inspiration behind Pandora's floating Hallelujah Mountains with its column-like cliffs and glass walkway, Sexpert shares top five sex trends to watch out for in 2023 like praise kinks. When the Philippines in 2016 won a landmark legal ruling against Chinas "nine-dash line" its claim to the resources of much of the South China Sea Indonesias response was muted. Recently, he has shown a renewed enthusiasm for bilateral trade agreements, signing one with Australia in early 2020 after years of arduous negotiations. (As if talking so much that the other person's ear is moved back.) I am keen to raise the profile of Southeast Asia and Indonesia in theUK and help the Indo-Pacific Tilt move from policy planning to reality. Keen to coax Jokowi into taking action, one adviser made the case in terms that the President might accept more readily. Despite strong electoral support from Papua, Jokowi continues with the ineffective efforts to use security forces to crush separatist rebels. Indonesia has too often been overlooked in London, partly because ofa lack of historical engagement and partly because it is a large and difficult place to do business. It raises the question: How do companies with large global footprints decide which side to pick? Delivered Wednesday. In discussing it with my father, to make sure he would not be offended or upset by it, he reminded me that Bland itself was a chosen name. Australia needs to have a much better understanding of these limits, and learn to cooperate more effectively and realistically with its important neighbour. With a deep-seated aversion to liberal economics, Indonesia will not wholeheartedly embrace free markets and free trade any time soon, Bland writes. In 2015, Jokowi authorised the execution of more than a dozen drug traffickers, many of whom were foreign citizens, despite concerns about the impact on international relations. Written evidence by Ben Bland, Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, was submitted to the United Kingdom Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee in September 2021 and has recently been published. cookies The rising middle classes across the region willgenerate strong demand for the products and services that Britains diverse corporate sectorprovides. And by his second term, this outsider had become firmly embedded in elite politics. Thisshould be supported by deepening the UKs strategic conversations and cooperation onSoutheast Asia with other important partners such as the US, Australia, the EU and Japan. Bland is the director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, a nonpartisan policy think tank in Sydney, Australia. I have a longstanding interest in Indonesia, having lived inJakarta, studied Indonesian and built relationships with key players across the political andbusiness communities. Share this post. Athletic, trim, and ears that you just want to grab as he goes down on your thick, uncut No British Prime Minister has visited Jakarta sinceDavid Cameron in 2015, although Indonesian President Joko Widodo came to London in2016. The UK should put Indonesia at the heart of its intensified engagement with Southeast Asiabecause Indonesia is so important and the UK-Indonesia relationship has so much room togrow. Weekly update on whats driving U.S. national security policy. Done correctly, therefore,enhanced engagement with ASEAN, as an organisation, and Southeast Asian governments,in their own right, should be mutually reinforcing. Ben Bland is a research fellow at the Lowy Institute and the author of Generation HK: Seeking Identity in Chinas Shadow and the forthcoming Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia. WebBen Bland is the director of the Asia-Pacific programme at Chatham House. Jokowi has struggled to contain the virus this year. Yet, it is hardly part of a broader strategy to embrace free trade. Now their great-grandson is a BBC presenter who announced on Thursday he would be known as Ben Boulos - taking his maternal family's name to reflect his Sudanese-Egyptian heritage. Written evidenceby Ben Bland,Director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute, was submittedto the United Kingdom Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee in September 2021 and has recently been published. Economic diplomacy, encompassing development cooperation but focused on boostingtrade and investment, should be a major focus. 41. I frequently write op-eds and provide expert analysis on Southeast Asia to leading international media organisations including Bloomberg, CNN, the Financial Times, TheGuardian, Reuters and The Washington Post. Boulos explained that while he is proud of the British side of his family, having the surname Bland made people fairly assume he is as British as they come, and he felt like half of his identity was being masked. Working with governments can secure the UKsshort-term interests but the UK also needs to do what it can to help promote its values inthe region and deepen ties with the people of Southeast Asia. A vibrant region of more than 650 million people, Southeast Asia presents manyopportunities for the UK. It is ironic that Jokowi, a leader who prides himself in being responsive to the concerns of the public, has not done more to improve the countrys health system. He has no strong sense of where he wants Indonesia to go. Luhut would become an ever more regular presence on Jokowis foreign trips. Benjamin Mark Bland (born 13 May 1984 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire [citation needed]), known professionally as Ben Boulos, is an English presenter and journalist for the BBC News, specialising in business for UK and global audiences on programmes including Business Live, Talking Business and World Business Report, as well as being Britains renewed enthusiasm in Southeast Asia means, among other tasks, negotiating the idiosyncrasies of ASEAN. An interesting insight Bland provides into Indonesias foreign relations occurred when Moeldoko, Jokowis chief of staff, met with the Chinese ambassador to Indonesia in late 2019. Both countries have much to gain on thisfront. There are no quick and easy wins when it comes to engaging with ASEAN, which can belaborious and bureaucratic, like many other regional and multilateral organisations. Join in-depth conversations and interact with foreign-policy experts with. I hope you can join us. Save. If the UK wants to be a global leaderin tackling climate change, it should do much more with the region, from expandingdevelopment cooperation, to collaborating with the private sector and building a globalconsensus on issues such as carbon taxes and the rules around carbon offsets. If the UK government is serious about competing with China, it has endless avenues to workwith both governments and civil society in Southeast Asia to demonstrate the benefits ofengaging with democracies that respect human rights, value environmental protections andembrace transparency and openness. Explore the benefits of your FP subscription. Indonesia is the most populous nation in Southeast Asia, a G20 economy, the worlds thirdbiggest democracy and the worlds biggest Muslim-majority nation. He previously spent a decade as a correspondent for the Financial Times in Asia, with postings in Jakarta, Hanoi, and Hong Kong. They decided on the blandest name possible literally to ensure their survival. 12. His research focuses on the nexus of politics, economics and international relations in Southeast Asia, This can be done through development cooperation with local NGOs but also throughfacilitating connections between Indonesian NGOs and their counterparts in the region andbeyond. While ASEAN is often seen by outsiders as a forum for tackling geopolitical challenges,Southeast Asian governments are much more focused on domestic problems and howASEAN can help them resolve these. Economic diplomacy: Borders, barriers and obstacles, For real peace, Afghanistan needs a Plan B, Economic diplomacy: Indonesia trade, ASIO business & deglobalisation, Indonesia considers trade options post TPP. Stay informed with the latest commentary and analysis on international events from experts at the Lowy Institute and around the world. Although most of the challenges facing Southeast Asia are domestic, the region also risksdestabilisation because of external factors, chiefly the growing rivalry between the US andChina. At the Lowy Institute, he also wrote analysis papers examining the state of Indonesian democracy and the potential for the Australia-India-Indonesia trilateral relationship, among other research projects. 17. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He was also implicitly criticising the approach of his predecessor, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who adopted a policy of "a thousand friends and no enemies" or "a million friends and no enemies", depending on how affable he was feeling. Analysis: Jokowis foreign policy has always been unpredictable, seesawing between nationalism and globalism. The expansion of the Indonesian middleclass will offer many opportunities for British companies willing to navigate the sometimes complicated but often rewarding business scene in Indonesia. Delivered Monday-Friday. Published daily by the http://loopers.co/. I focused on Southeast Asia during myundergraduate History degree at the University of Cambridge and have an MA in SoutheastAsian Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. But as Bland quite rightly points out, Jokowi has no time for great power politics. He is the author ofMan of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia(Penguin Random House, 2020), the first English language politicalbiography of Indonesias president, andGeneration HK: Seeking Identity in Chinas Shadow(Penguin Random House, 2017). On his website, he wrote: In recent months, I have received quite a few messages on social media some pleasant, some hostile intended for another journalist with exactly the same name as mine: Ben Bland. Beijing was inflaming tensions by building artificial islands and military installations in waters claimed by several of Indonesias south-east Asian neighbours. But as I reached the end, I was yearning for more of his views on what could happen next in the Indonesia story. A curated selection of our very best long reads. Values and interests are oftenin conflict but, if development cooperation is done carefully and thoughtfully, it is possible to walk and chew gum. Indonesia and the Philippines, the only ASEAN member-states with truly competitiveelectoral systems, have experienced a decline in the quality of their democracy, withgovernments critics and civil society groups under growing pressure. Foreign governments have repeatedly placed far too much hope in Jokowis ability to step up in the global arena. Bens position was supported by the Lowy Institutes Engaging Asia Project, which was established with the financial support of the Australian Government. He wrote: Changing my name is something I have thought about before, on-and-off, for another reason: my name hides aspects of my identity that are important to me but not immediately obvious to others. Who is the Chinese group blamed for cyber attacks on the west? Lowy Institute, Screen time in Palu, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia (Basri Marzuki/NurPhoto via Getty Images). Many Indonesian NGOs were already struggling financially before COVID-19 and thepandemic has exacerbated these strains, although these organisations are needed more than ever to support Indonesian society through a very difficult period. An interesting regional precedent is set by the decision to stop the junta leader attending upcoming summit meetings. For Future Tuesdays Ben Bland presented his Future Screens NI Rewriting the Narrative funded project Neoco: Tools & Patterns for Progressive Operations. 374 likes. Jokowi, pictured with his wife, Iriana, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan, is interested in attracting investment and that has shaped his relationship with Beijing.AP. As Bland argues, the rise of Jokowi to the presidency of Indonesia is a testimony to the countrys democracy, and its free and fair elections. A personal update: after three great years at @LowyInstitute, I'm leaving next month to take up a new role as director of the Asia-Pacific programme at The journalist has explained that he will now use the name Ben Boulos in his professional and daily life, and has changed his name across his social media accounts. The West is desperate for new partners in Asia to help it push back against Xi Jinpings China. Rather than just talking about the rules-based international order or competition with China, the UK needs to use Dialogue Partner status as an opportunity to be present in and helpfulto the region. As he concludes briefly, there are indeed limits on what is possible in Indonesia. 18. 2 global climate envoy, joined FP editor in chiefRavi Agrawal to discuss Washingtons climate policy, and how it is being seen around the world. Think about it from the perspective of a furniture exporter, he said. Please, and moving back to London after 14 years, The end of Fortress Australia?, a first birthday for Man of Contradictions, why writing is thinking, and the other love of my life, The UK's Indo-Pacific Tilt, mutual (mis)understanding between Australia and Indonesia, and what Franz Kafka tells us about Hong Kong's legal system, COVID-19 runs rampant in Indonesia, ASEAN's Rorschach test in Myanmar, the long struggle in Hong Kong and the women who changed war reporting, From a royal slipper thrown at Sir Francis Walsingham to Saddam Hussein's non-existent Weapons of Mass Destruction, via Napoleon's love of OSINT and, The two faces of Indonesian democracy, Beijing's inevitable squeeze in Hong Kong, and the Washington method in Southeast Asia. It took only a short while, however, for complaints to emerge. Indonesias notorious weakness in handling natural disasters and other crises has been evident through the Covid-19 pandemic. It lags way behind countries such as South Korea, China, Singapore and Malaysia in terms of hospital places, critical care beds, doctors and money spent on health. It feels a significant time to do it, because of a similar decision made around a century ago adding an historic symmetry to all this. 7. Southeast Asia, at the geographical heart of the Indo-Pacific, is the region where there ismost to play for, and most at stake, for the UK and its allies and close partners such as theUS, Australia and Japan. The UK has a very solid base of political, economic and social capital in Southeast Asia uponwhich it can build in the years ahead. Jokowi did mention the need for "maritime diplomacy" and international co-operation to reduce the risk of conflict in the South China Sea and beyond. If the situation in the South China Sea escalates, then the cost of insurance for sea freight will rise, and it will be bad for their international business. Ben Bland is the director of the Southeast Asia program at the Lowy Institute. Myanmars democratically elected government was ousted in a coupearlier this year. Less Bland.https://t.co/CJQKtCK21t pic.twitter.com/nNphKNgdQz. Watch FPs Ravi Agrawal in conversation with two of the contributors to the magazines cover story, Anne-Marie Slaughter and retired Gen. David Petraeus, as they reflect on whats surprised themand how to prevent future wars. While foreign policy discussions about Southeast Asia are often dominated by securityexperts, most of the regions governments are focused on domestic development challenges. Explore the benefits included in your subscription. It is not a substitute for much-needed economic reforms or a consistent trade policy, but it has no doubt helped the country maintain a decent flow of foreign investment and lending, allowing it to sustain growth and cover the annual budget deficits. WebThe Bent Ears, Del Norte, Colorado. 31. Ben Bland is the director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Lowy Institute. Both the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong democracy movement are settling in for a long and painful struggle. another quipped. Webbend someone's ear. His responses were ineffective, targeted at maximising media attention rather than achieving concrete results. By Ben Bland Mr. Delivered Monday-Saturday. 43. As a child I would downplay all of that, trying to fit in and not wanting to seem in any way different. 3. There are few quick wins in Southeast Asia and the UK faces many risks as well asopportunities in the region. For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here. 35. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, Benjamin Mark Bland (born 13 May 1984 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire ), known professionally as Ben Boulos, is an English presenter and journalist for the BBC News, specialising in business for UK and global audiences on programmes including Business Live, Talking Business and World Business Report, as well as being one of the main relief presenters for BBC World News, BBC News Channel and BBC World Service which operates globally to an estimated weekly audience o Jokowi, pictured with Scott Morrison, has shown a renewed enthusiasm for bilateral trade agreements, signing one with Australia in early 2020 after years of arduous negotiations.Dominic Lorrimer. He is more interested in attracting financial assistanceand China has not disappointed as it is now financing many infrastructure projects. WebView the profiles of professionals named "Ben Bland" on LinkedIn. Although he has taken Indonesia down a slightly more unilateral path, Jokowi is driven by instinct, whim and the winds of fortune. Facebook. FPs Winter 2023 print issue brings together 12 experts to help us answer those questions. Most of the "five pillars" of the fulcrum were about domestic policy and the economy: promoting the fishing industry, building maritime infrastructure and defending Indonesias sovereignty at a time of intensifying territorial disputes. Jonathan Pershing, formerly the Biden administrations No. The rotatingannual chair takes on much of the work of organising and setting the agenda for ministerialmeetings. Delivered Wednesday & Sunday. Put Southeast Asia at the centre of the UKs Indo-Pacific Tilt. We are the Bent Ears! That is the best way to ensure that Britain becomes more influential andcapitalises on its existing reputation and connections in the region. It is an easy mistake to make. The best way to help Southeast Asian nations stave offpressure from China is to help make them more resilient in their own right. Many analysts had expected great things from the Indonesian economy. Balancing national security and national prosperity a range of views and the call for a range of resources. Sometimes he gels with his counterparts and ignores his formal talking points, and at other times he reads out speeches in robotic fashion. 13. Twitter. Your guide to the most important world stories of the day. It is hardly surprising that the GDP per capita of a country such as Thailand, which has suffered from much greater political instability, is some 55% higher than that of Indonesia, according to World Bank data. It mostly consists of photographs of him glad-handing world leaders. The panelists included Anne Richards, CEO of Fidelity International; Carmine Di Sibio, CEO of Ernst & Young; Mathias Miedreich, CEO of Umicore; and Lubna S. Olayan, chair of the executive committee of Olayan Financing Company. He wrote: "Its been a while but due to huge, unprecedented, overwhelming public demand* Ill be back in the chair tomorrow (Friday) on @bbcnews channel/@bbctwo from 0900GMT & BBC World News from 1000GMT. 42. He is more interested in attracting financial assistance, and China has not disappointed. After emerging relatively unscathed from the first global wave of COVID-19, Southeast Asiais now bearing the brunt of the Delta variant. Extract from Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the Struggle to Remake Indonesia by Ben Bland, a Lowy Institute Paper published by Penguin Random House on 1 September 2020, RRP $12.99. It seemed more like a game of whack-a-mole than a proper plan. More importantly, he thought that, just as with democracy, foreign policy should be put to work to boost his overriding obsessions: the economy, infrastructure and his personal bank of political capital. The region is one of the worlds most exposed to global warming and rising sealevels because of the location of major capital cities, food and industrial production centresin low-lying delta and coastal areas. 39. Ben Bland paints an insightful and intriguing portrait of Indonesia's leader in his new book, Man of Contradictions: Joko Widodo and the struggle to remake Indonesia. The latest episode in a podcast to discuss the implications of coronavirus for Australia, the region, and the world. Ben Bland's new book on Jokowi will be released next week.. Neoco includes over 240 tools, 50 published guides, 16 case studies and much more. One-stop digest of politics, economics, and culture. More likely is that jockeying between the two great powers makes it even harder for ASEANto adopt a cohesive response to shared challenges; or that growing economic linkagesbetween China and its neighbours in Southeast Asia create a path dependency that leavesSoutheast Asia enmeshed in a Beijing-dominated sphere of influence. Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand are embroiled in long-runningand sometimes violent conflicts with separatist groups. Delivered Friday. Government-to-government partnerships can only get nations so far. Thin-skinned and vain, SBY had sought acclaim in the theatre of diplomacy. Boris Pistorius, a longtime politician with little foreign-policy experience, will host his counterparts later this week to discuss Ukraine.

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