Indonesia–New Zealand relations
Indonesia |
New Zealand |
---|---|
Diplomatic mission | |
Indonesian Embassy, Wellington | New Zealand Embassy, Jakarta |
Indonesia–New Zealand relations are foreign bilateral relations between
History
The Indonesian Revolution
While New Zealand took little interest in the
New Zealand also supported the Indonesian Republic's efforts to gain associate membership of the proposed International Trade Organization and the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East. The then-Acting Prime Minister, Walter Nash, also criticised the second Dutch police action as a violation of the Renville Agreement and suggested that truce violations should be referred to the Security Council. New Zealand also sent a representative to an Asian conference in Delhi, that had been convened by the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, to discuss the Indonesian question.[6][7][8]
Early Foundations
On 17 February 1950, Prime Minister Sidney Holland formally recognised the Republic of Indonesia shortly after the Dutch transferred sovereignty to the new Indonesian Republic.[9] However, due to the limited resources of New Zealand's Department of External Affairs, New Zealand did not establish a diplomatic mission until 1961. Instead, New Zealand's diplomatic and consular interests were represented by the British Embassy in Jakarta. While New Zealand had a Colombo Plan office in Jakarta, its functions were limited to coordinating New Zealand activities under the Plan and supporting New Zealand experts assigned to Indonesia. In February 1961, the Colombo Plan office was upgraded to that status of Consulate-General with Duncan Rae serving as Consul-General and later Charge d'Affairs. In January 1963, Prime Minister Keith Holyoake upgraded the mission to the status of legation. In return, the Indonesians accredited their embassy in Australia to New Zealand in 1958. Dr A.Y. Helmi served as the first Indonesian Minister to New Zealand.[10]
When Indonesia joined the Colombo Plan in 1953, New Zealand quickly extended its Colombo Plan assistance to Indonesia. Under a technical assistance scheme, New Zealand sent experts to Indonesia while Indonesian trainees received training in New Zealand. New Zealand technical aid initiatives for Indonesia included the establishment of a technical trade training centre, short-term training courses for Indonesian dental nurses and dentists, the dispatch of New Zealand teachers to assist with English language teaching at teachers' colleges in Indonesia, and the construction of a Jakarta asbestos-cement board factory. New Zealand's Colombo Plan capital assistance was hampered by limited funds on the New Zealand side and limited technical expertise on the Indonesian side. By 1960, New Zealand had sent 29 experts to Indonesia while 99 Indonesians had been given scholarships for training in New Zealand.[11]
The Sukarno Era
New Zealand's relations with Indonesia during the Sukarno era were soured by Indonesia's dispute with the
During the
Throughout the Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation, Indonesia waged an undeclared border war against Malaysia and sent armed parties on cross-border operations into the East Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, which bordered Indonesia's Kalimantan provinces. In September 1964, Indonesian extended its infiltration operations to Peninsular Malaysia. New Zealand agreed to send its 1 RNZIR battalion, which was based in Peninsular Malaysia, to hunt down Indonesian infiltrators near Labis in the Malaysian state of Johor. In January 1965, significant New Zealand military forces—including the infantry battalion, a New Zealand Special Air Service detachment, two minesweepers, and two Bristol Freighters—were sent to Borneo. These served alongside British, Malaysian, and Australian forces and saw combat operations against both Indonesian regular and guerrilla forces.[19]
Despite the political differences between the two countries, the two governments did not sever diplomatic relations. The New Zealand government continued its Colombo Plan assistance to Indonesia, albeit at a much-reduced level. While New Zealand Prime Minister Keith Holyoake regarded Indonesia's policy of Confrontation as misguided, he regarded New Zealand's Colombo Plan assistance scheme as a sign of goodwill towards the Indonesian people.
Economy and trade
Trade has been made even easier by the ASEAN Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which came into force for New Zealand in December 2009 and at the start of 2012 for Indonesia. The deal will eliminate tariffs on all imported goods by 2020. [citation needed] Traditionally Indonesia viewed New Zealand as the source of meat and dairy products, such as beef, milk, and cheese, a role that it shared with Australia.
In 2016, New Zealand's exports to Indonesia reached NZ$843 million, while Indonesia's exports to New Zealand were at NZ$724 million. Total two-way trade for 12 months to June 2016 was NZ$1.567 billion. Indonesia was New Zealand's 13th largest trading partner for goods trade.[22]
See also
Notes
- ^ "New Zealand and Indonesia". nzembassy.com. New Zealand Embassy Jakarta, Indonesia. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
- ^ "Kerja Sama Bilateral" (in Indonesian). 6 January 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Michael Green, p.147
- ^ Ron Smith, p.73-75
- ^ Rupert Lockwood, p.229
- ^ Michael Green, 147-49
- ^ Aaron O'Brien, Chapter 1
- ^ Michael Green, pp. 147-49
- ^ Michael Green, pp. 150-51
- ^ Michael Green, pp. 153, 158-59
- ^ Michael Green, pp. 151-53, 157-58
- ^ Michael Green, pp. 154-57
- ^ J. Soejdati Djiwandono, pp. 1-7
- ^ Michael Green, pp. 159-63
- ^ Michael Green, p. 156
- ^ a b Michael Green, pp. 163-64
- ^ Cindy Adams, pp. 300-302
- ^ John Ongkili, p.7
- ^ Michael Green, pp. 164-67
- ^ Michael Green, 167-68
- ^ Michael Green, pp. 168-70
- ^ Ida Indawati Khouw (March 16, 2013). "New Zealand highlights education in relations with RI". www.thejakartapost.com. The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
Further reading
- Djiwandono, Soedjati (1996). Konfrontasi Revisited: Indonesia's Foreign Policy Under Soekarno. Jakarta: Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
- Green, Michael (2005). "Chapter 6: Uneasy Partners: New Zealand and Indonesia". In Smith, Anthony (ed.). Southeast Asia and New Zealand: A History of Regional and Bilateral Relations. Wellington: ISBN 0-86473-519-7.
- Indonesia—New Zealand: 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations (PDF). Wellington: Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, New Zealand. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- Lockwood, Rupert (1982). Black Armada: Australia & the Struggle for Indonesian Independence. Sydney: Hale & Iremonger.
- O'Brien, Aaron (1994). "Chapter 1". New Zealand and Indonesia 1945-1962: "A clear though indirect interest" (MA Thesis). University of Auckland.
- Smith, Ron (1994). Working Class Son: My Fight Against Capitalism and War. Wellington: Self-published. ISBN 0-473-02909-X.