The Politics of Subsea Cables in Indonesia: Navigating Great Power Competition

This policy brief outlines the politics of subsea cables in Indonesia and offers recommendations for how Indonesia may navigate these com- plexities when developing and utiliz- ing such critical infrastructure. [...] The Politics of Subsea Cables in Indonesia: Navigating Great Power Competition ISBN: 978-82-343-0627-3 (print) 978-82-343-0628-0 (online) 15 2024 • The ongoing geopolitical competition on subsea cables complicates Jakarta’s decisions over technology adoption which may impact digital norms align- ment and access to technology in the long run. [...] • Indonesia should map stakeholders prior to developing a strategic plan, con- sider foreign policy in decision-making, collaborate with regional organizations to formulate frameworks for technol- ogy governance, and establish robust foreign technology investment review mechanisms. Fitri Bintang Timur Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) Research Consultant at the Centre for Strate [...] These developments have led to concerns over a split between who owns and manages the infrastructure that underpins the internet glob- ally. [...] The politics of submarine cables in Indonesia In an effort to “de-risk” from China, the U. S. [...] Indonesia’s approach to subsea cable competi- tion is characterized by an underdeveloped hedging strategy that tends to err on the side of indifference. [...] S.- China tech competition stems from several fac- tors. One, the country is not sufficiently cogni- sant of the risks that come with allowing China to increase its foreign direct investment (FDI) from 5% (2014) to 28% (2023), compared to slug- gish growth in U. S. [...] Amidst increasing tensions in Southeast Asia, the forthcoming subsea cables — Echo, Bifrost, and Apricot — will connect Indonesia directly with the U. S. [...] to boost economic development and win popular support from the people. [...] Include Foreign Policy Considerations in Decision-Making: Indonesia should consider the geopolitical implications of submarine cable projects as foreign policy considerations will help the country maxi- mize benefits and avoid collateral conse- quences from the great power competition.