China-Indonesia Maritime Cooperation from the Perspective of Constructivism

Abstract

China and Indonesia, as two pivotal nations in Asia, have established a 
cooperative and mutually beneficial social relationship through their longterm interactions. This relationship transcends the extensive maritime 
domains and abundant marine resources of both countries, being deeply 
influenced by their shared norms and collective identities. For instance, 
China’s 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative and Indonesia’s Global 
Maritime Fulcrum strategy not only exemplify this social relationship 
but also mirror the mutual understanding and aspirations of both nations 
regarding maritime cooperation. Specifically, notable advancements 
have been achieved in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure 
development, fisheries, energy, and marine tourism. Concrete examples of 
these positive outcomes include the collaborative Jakarta-Bandung HighSpeed Rail project and the development of the “Twin Parks” fisheries 
center between China and Indonesia. However, despite the positive strides 
in economic cooperation, progress in maritime security collaboration has 
been comparatively slow. Challenges such as the South China Sea disputes, 
illegal fishing, Indonesia’s policy of balancing major powers, and the rise of 
domestic nationalism present potential hurdles to cooperation. To further 
deepen their partnership, both countries need to continually adjust and 
reshape their norms and identities through interaction, enhance political 
trust, and strengthen cultural exchanges. Moreover, actively exploring 
possibilities in non-traditional security cooperation, such as joint efforts in marine environmental protection and combating maritime crime, could 
pave new pathways for the development of their bilateral relations.