Articles by Ronny P Sasmita

Indonesia’s nickel hub: Beyond state control?

Morowali, a key centre of Indonesia’s nickel processing industry, is becoming a “para-sovereign” space where formal sovereignty is intact yet practical authority is shared, fragmented or captured by private actors, says researcher Ronny P Sasmita.

Ronny P Sasmita

Why Indonesian President Prabowo is drawn to Xi Jinping’s China

Prabowo’s Beijing visit signalled more than diplomacy. It reflected a shared belief in strong states, moralised authority and culturally rooted legitimacy. Like Xi, Indonesia’s president sees development without Western liberalism — and a role in a multipolar order, argues researcher Ronny P Sasmita.

Ronny P Sasmita

ACFTA 3.0: Beijing’s quiet triumph in Southeast Asia

China is quietly weaving a new economic architecture in Southeast Asia through the upgraded ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0, while US influence languishes in the region. Researcher Ronny P Sasmita argues that this strategic pact reshapes regional influence, by embedding Beijing’s standards and technologies across ASEAN.

Ronny P Sasmita

Can Indonesia stay green while becoming the ‘Saudi Arabia of nickel’?

Indonesia’s push to become a nickel powerhouse amid its green energy transition threatens fragile ecosystems and local communities. The true test lies in balancing decarbonisation, biodiversity and geopolitical sovereignty amid growing Chinese influence, says researcher Ronny P Sasmita.

Ronny P Sasmita

Prabowo, Xi and Putin: Indonesia’s quiet pivot towards a China-led future?

Prabowo’s leadership style and strategic worldview appear to align more naturally with leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin than with Washington’s establishment. For China, this presents both an opportunity and a challenge, says researcher Ronny P Sasmita.

Ronny P Sasmita