Evaluating Indonesian Muslims’ Engagement with China

Picture: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia

In an article by Fulcrum, Xue Song explores Indonesia’s Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah’s engagements with China.

The BRI underscores five connectivity pillars, with people-to-people connectivity as the fifth pillar. Deepening engagement with the Indonesian Muslim community constitutes part of these efforts. Additionally, as Indonesia emerges as a new hot spot for Chinese investors, China increasingly recognizes the importance of understanding local society, including through religious channels, to navigate the socio-cultural landscape more effectively. Supporting local communities through religious organizations has also become one of the channels through which Chinese companies fulfil their social responsibilities. For instance, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) received support from NU during the initial phase of the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project, and explored cooperation programmes with Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta regarding lectures and specialized workshops for the faculty of engineering.

Faith diplomacy between China and Indonesia began early in their diplomatic relations and has been reciprocal. During the Asian-African Conference in 1955, also known as the Bandung Conference, the Chinese delegation specifically invited Hui Muslim scholar Da Pusheng and presented copies of albums titled Muslims in China to clarify Beijing’s stance on its religious policy. During the Soekarno era, many Indonesian Muslims visited China, and New China became a reference point for Indonesia’s early modernization endeavours. After the two countries resumed diplomatic relations in 1990, faith diplomacy also resumed and broadened. Not only has China actively initiated faith diplomacy with Indonesia, but Indonesia has also promoted Santri Diplomacy with China.