Studies on contemporary China in Indonesia: A snapshot of the current knowledge landscape

This article examines the development of contemporary China Studies in Indonesia, a key site in the Global South where interest in China has grown alongside its global rise. We trace the field’s evolution from Cold War-era restrictions to its current focus on policy and state-centric analyses, often shaped by international relations frameworks. Despite increased research activity, the field remains fragmented, constrained by limited Chinese-language capacity and reliance on Western paradigms. Indonesian scholars have contributed valuable insights into China’s impact on Indonesia, yet their work rarely engages directly with Chinese sources or scholars. We argue for deeper regional collaboration, greater use of Chinese-language materials, and analytical approaches that move beyond Western-centric models to enrich both local and global understandings of contemporary China.