Can Indonesia use Myanmar to balance the US and China?


Protesters sit on a makeshift barricade erected to deter security forces during demonstrations against the military coup in Yangon on March 14, 2021. - AFP

INDONESIA’S efforts to make the peace in post-coup Myanmar aren’t just about showing Southeast Asian solidarity, they are a way of showcasing Jakarta’s democratic credentials to the new administration in the United States, experts say.

The coup by the Myanmar military against the democratically elected National League for Democracy party led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1 is just the latest in a string of issues to have threatened unity in the 10 member Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) bloc.

The Star Christmas Special Promo: Save 35% OFF Yearly. T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.02/month

Billed as RM 96.20 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
SCMP , Indonesia , China , Myanmar , US , Political Mileage

Next In Aseanplus News

Coins in sand: how the UAE draws in the global crypto community
Asean News Headlines at 10pm on Tuesday (Dec 16, 2025)
Thai eSports player expelled from SEA Games for cheating
'The city was gone': Survivors recount flood chaos during rare cyclone in Indonesia
The Philippines launches 2025-2026 national action plan to end child marriage
'Waiting to die': the dirty business of recycling in Vietnam
Human wave attacks and drones: How Myanmar's junta is fighting back
Thai military designates the Gulf of Thailand as a high-risk area, aiming to cut off military supplies to Cambodia
Wang Xiaofei's wife Mandy Ma denies she had a rift with late actress Barbie Hsu
Thundery showers will continue for the rest of December, says the Singapore weatherman

Others Also Read