Traditional Chinese Medicine in Indonesia: History and Contemporary Cooperation

Abstract This paper explores the history and contemporary development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Indonesia, focusing on four dimensions: the early TCM practitioners in Indonesia and their influence, the evolution of TCM education, the regulatory frameworks and management governing TCM practice, and the current TCM cooperation between China and Indonesia. The paper reveals that TCM has gradually become an integral part of Indonesia’s healthcare system, thanks to the contributions of early Chinese practitioners. The paper further highlights how the present bilateral cooperation between China-Indonesia concerning TCM has been strengthened under the “Health Silk Road” initiative. It is expected that the two countries will further expand their cooperation on TCM, thus promoting both the internationalization of TCM and broader regional cooperation on TCM.