Unveiling China's 'Muslim Diplomacy' in Indonesia: Strategies to Counter Criticism on Xinjiang

Abstract

This presentation explores China's engagement with Muslim-majority nations, with a specific focus on Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, in the context of its activities in Xinjiang. The talk aims to provide insights into China's strategic initiatives aimed at mitigating criticism and gaining support from Muslim-majority nations. Drawing from existing literature on China's religious diplomacy, the concept of 'Muslim diplomacy' is developed to analyze China's diverse strategies within the Indonesian context. The analysis identifies four key components of China's 'Muslim diplomacy' in Indonesia: 1) Shaping Positive Narratives: Examining how China strategically communicates its Xinjiang actions to Indonesian officials, constructing a narrative that aligns with its goals and minimizes potential criticism; 2) Cultivating Relations with Muslim Organizations: Investigating China's engagement with various Muslim organizations in Indonesia, exploring relationship dynamics and their impact on shaping public opinion; 3. Scholarships and Educational Collaborations: Analyzing China's initiatives in providing scholarships to Muslim students and collaborating with Islamic educational institutions, exploring the influence of these efforts on shaping perceptions among Indonesian Muslims. 4. Media Outreach: Exploring China's media strategy to convey positive messages about its actions, examining the channels and content through which it seeks to influence public opinion within Indonesia.

Speaker's Bio

Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat serves as the Director of China-Indonesia Desk at the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS). He completed his Ph.D. thesis on the Belt and Road Initiatives at the University of Manchester in the UK. In addition to his role at CELIOS, Zulfikar holds the position of an associate at the London School of Economics’ IDEAS and is a research affiliate at the Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore.

Yeta Purnama is a Researcher within the  China-Indonesia Desk at the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS). She holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Universitas Islam Indonesia. Yeta's noteworthy contributions to the field of China-Indonesia relations are evidenced by the publication of her works in reputable international media outlets such as the South China Morning Post, The Diplomat, Australian Outlook, among others.

Organizer

Global China Local Cultures (GCLC), ASIAR Research Cluster, HKIHSS, HKU