Indonesia’s foreign policy during the 2014-2019 period was quite dynamic. Out of many issues, two international issues received strong reactions Indonesian society including Rohingya ethnic group issue in Myanmar and the Uighur ethnic group issue in China. Protests against these two issues occurred in two different time periods in some regions of Indonesia, demanding the government to take firm actions regarding these issues. This paper examines Indonesia’s attitudes toward Rohingya ethnic group issue in Myanmar and the Uighur ethnic group issue in China based on constructivism paradigm using the theory of identity. This paper presents gaps in Indonesia’s identity and interests regarding these issues which led to different attitudes in responding to those issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected all people’s life aspects in every country in the world, including the Southeast Asian region. Not all countries can have stable domestic capabilities and conditions to face COVID-19 as happened in Myanmar. Their domestic situation has been negatively impacted by conflicts between the community and the government. The people of Myanmar are exacerbated by the coup by the Myanmar military against the legitimate government. This has caused the political and security situation in Myanmar to become chaotic because Myanmar people who oppose the military junta stage demonstrations that triggered the military junta to be repressive by arresting the protesters including health workers, teachers, and others. This results in less optimal handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and causes the spread of COVID-19 is getting worse and out of control. Therefore, ASEAN which is a regional organization in South East Asia has decided to take strategic steps to make the spread of the virus remain under control in the region, especially Myanmar. This article describes ASEAN's approach to Myanmar in tackling COVID-19 and providing humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar people who are struggling during an unstable situation. This research uses a comprehensive security concept framework with a qualitative approach. The data are collected using literature studies consisting of books, journal articles, official ASEAN and government websites, and online news sites. The results show that ASEAN has taken an approach with its typical characteristics to cope with COVID-19 amid pressure and criticism from state and non-state actors toward Myanmar.
ASEAN as a regional organization in Southeast Asia has cooperative relations with state actors and other international organizational actors within the ASEAN+1 framework, one of which is with South Korea. ASEAN relations with South Korea experienced ups and downs due to following the dynamics that occurred on the Korean Peninsula. After the election of Moon Jae In as President of South Korea, the South Korean government emphasized its seriousness to deepen its relations with countries in Southeast Asia and India. This article explains why South Korea has again strengthened its relationship with ASEAN through the New Southern Policy. This study uses the concept of national interest based on English School thinking with a qualitative approach and literature review methods that collect data in the form of books, journals, official government websites, and scientific reports/papers. The results of this study indicate that South Korea has deepened its relationship with ASEAN to realize its national interests in the form of increasing economic cooperation which was affected by the trade war between the United States and China. In addition, South Korea's other national interest is in the form of efforts to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula through ASEAN member countries that also have bilateral relations with North Korea.
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