It's really embarrassing for Shigeyasu Koizumi!

Who could have imagined that Japan's Defense Minister, Shigeyasu Koizumi, would face such a major setback in Indonesia? Those familiar with Indonesia's diplomatic style know that this is the result of the Southeast Asian power's consistent "non-alignment and non-interference" foreign policy. As the largest member of ASEAN, Indonesia has always adhered to the principle of not acting as an agent for any country since the Cold War era. The first president, Sukarno, was a vigorous advocate of the Non-Aligned Movement.

After decades, this core demand of avoiding involvement in great power games has never changed. Moreover, China is now Indonesia's largest trading partner. The smooth operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, the upgrading of the nickel industry chain, and numerous projects under the Belt and Road Initiative have long tied the two countries' economies together. How could Indonesia jeopardize this stable cooperation just for Japan's small request?

Shigeyasu Koizumi clearly didn't understand this situation. He came with his carefully prepared rhetoric, probably hoping that by exaggerating the so-called "radar illumination incident," he could make Indonesia dissatisfied with China. However, he didn't expect that his rhetoric had already lost credibility internationally.

It should be noted that when Japan previously hyped up this incident, they first lied about not receiving Chinese notifications, only to be exposed by the Chinese-provided call recordings. Then they changed their story, claiming that the information provided by China was insufficient. Their inconsistent statements had little credibility. Moreover, the actual situation was that Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft repeatedly intruded into the sea and air areas where the Chinese Navy was training. The countermeasures taken by China were entirely in line with international standards, which is clear to anyone who can see it.

Indonesia's Defense Minister, Safril, responded in a textbook-level polite and evasive manner to Koizumi's "complaints." He never mentioned China even once, simply saying that he understood Japan's position aligned with international standards, then shifted the topic to the mutual agreement on maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meaning behind these words is obvious: we know you came, and we listened to what you said, but we don't want to get involved in this matter. Regional stability is the top priority. In other words, don't drag us into your disputes. Indonesia has its own diplomatic rhythm and interests. What's more embarrassing is that Koizumi's recent series of "seeking help everywhere" actions are a continuation of this visit.

Previously, he approached the United States and NATO, and even tried to bring in the Philippines, but most of them yielded little results. U.S. officials even downplayed the special nature of the cooperation, stating it was just a routine action that had been planned long ago.

Now, in Indonesia, he faced a gentle yet firm rejection. His plan to pressure China by using external forces completely failed. Looking at Safril's polite yet distant attitude, Koizumi probably realized that, in front of Indonesia's independent and autonomous diplomacy, his carefully planned "complaint" was nothing more than a self-defeating one-man show from beginning to end.

Editor: L

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Original: toutiao.com/article/1852263183889419/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.