Soft Power: Learning from China’s charms   

In the wake of the 1998 reform movement, Indonesia’s challenges in the international arena seems to be getting more complex. The impacts of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and human rights violations allegations in Timor Leste have caused Indonesia’s position in international politics to lag. On the other hand, however, a number of countries — such as China, India and other emerging powers — have been expanding their influence through fast development in terms of global issues and diplomatic approaches. It is a new era, where every nation is engaged in tough competition with others in respect to their own national interests. (The Jakarta Post)

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