The Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Universitas Indonesia (DHI UI), held its Monthly Discussion on May 7, 2025, under the theme “Trust and the China-Indonesia Relationship: An Analytical Framework.” The event featured Guangjiang Bao, Ph.D. Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Indonesian Studies at Xiamen University, China, as the main speaker.
In his presentation, Dr. Bao emphasized the centrality of trust in shaping international relations, particularly in the complex dynamics between China and Indonesia. According to him, trust is a fundamental yet often overlooked element: “Trust is a necessity—unnoticed but leaves us vulnerable when gone,” he remarked. He elaborated that trust and distrust are not mutually exclusive; instead, they coexist and interact in diplomatic contexts.
Dr. Bao argued that in macro-level interactions—such as economic cooperation—Indonesia and China demonstrate mutual trust. However, at the micro-level, distrust persists, particularly due to Indonesia’s strengthening of its security ties with the United States. He explained that trust can function as both a dependent and independent variable in international relations analysis and that it cannot simply be replaced by institutions or shared threats. Rather, identity, threat perception, empathy, values, and authenticity all contribute to the process of trust-building.
The speaker also offered a structured approach to diplomatic engagement, beginning with distrust reduction, followed by trust building, and culminating in genuine diplomacy. These steps, he noted, are vital for navigating the complexities of contemporary international relations.
The discussion attracted a number of engaged participants from the academic community who raised critical questions on bilateral trust issues and its implications for Indonesia’s foreign policy. The Department of International Relations hopes this session contributes to broader discourse on trust as a key element in international cooperation and diplomacy.
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