Indonesia’s President scraps China trip after deadly protests

Debris litters the street as police officers take their position following violent protests against lawmakers' allowance and police brutality after a delivery rider was allegedly run over by a police armoured vehicle during clashes between riot police and students protesters, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. - AP

JAKARTA: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto scrapped plans to travel to China to attend a major international summit, underlining the government’s growing concern about the violent protests that have rocked the South-East Asian nation this week.

Prabowo has declined the invitation from the Chinese government, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said in a statement on Saturday evening (Aug 31). "Due to domestic dynamics, the President wishes to continue to monitor the situation directly, as well as to lead directly and seek the best solution,” he said.