Manila. The Chinese government has denied that Indonesia’s criticisms of greedy foreign investors refer to Beijing, saying that whatever investment it has pumped into Jakarta has always been a win-win.
Foreign interference and resource nationalism have increasingly become staples in President Prabowo Subianto’s speeches. The retired army general also doesn’t hold back in accusing unnamed foreign entities of robbing Indonesia of its abundant natural resources.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a presser on Tuesday that the robbery remarks were “not aimed at China”. Beijing believes that its trade and investment ties with Jakarta have been “extremely fruitful” and mutually beneficial.
“[We] are both major developing countries, friendly neighbors, and each other’s important cooperation partners for development, with promising prospects of cooperation,” Lin said, as seen in a government-provided transcript.
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He went on to say Jakarta’s intentions to deepen its industrial and supply chain cooperation, hence its openness to Chinese investments.
“We believe that Indonesia will continue to protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies,” the diplomat said.
“… and foster a favorable environment for their investment and operation there.”
One of Prabowo’s more recent outbursts against foreign interference was when he addressed the National Cooperatives Day in mid-July.
“We love and respect guests, but sometimes there are guests who don’t know their place. They are uninvited. They came here, claiming that they wish to trade, but they end up robbing [us],” Prabowo said to a roaring crowd, while avoiding naming a specific country.
Government data showed that the Chinese bloc — combining mainland China and Hong Kong — invested $11.5 billion in Indonesia in the first half of 2026. Some $7.6 billion had come from Hong Kong alone, putting the special administrative region second to Singapore’s $8.8 billion investments.
Indonesia also reported that its trade with China had totaled $68.6 billion so far as of end-May. Export-import activities with Hong Kong amounted to $2.2 billion over the same five-month period.
Large figures aside, Chinese investors not long ago warned Prabowo of poor business conditions via a letter, even admitting that they were in a stew over some nickel-related policies. Some top officials had hosted Chinese businesses for talks several times since the letter made headlines in May, with the most recent engagement taking place just a few days ago with senior economic minister Airlangga Hartarto.
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