Lecture Notes on Indonesia's Foreign Alignment and UN Relations

Introduction

• Discussion on Indonesia's alignment with China and other global progressive forces.
• Historical context from the Declaration of Independence in August 1945.

Indonesia's Alignment

• Indonesia aligns with countries that have progressive ideas and policies, not just China.
• Mention of other nations (e.g., Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea) that declared independence around the same time.
• Quote from Soekarno’s speech linking Jakarta, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, Beijing, Pyongyang.

Imperialism and China

• Question raised about how Indonesia can oppose imperialism while aligning with China.
• Soekarno’s response:
  • Based on discussions with Chinese leaders (Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, etc.) who deny being imperialists.
  • Claims of mutual non-intervention between Indonesia and China.
• Reflection on past issues (the "Chinese problem" in Indonesia) and the Chinese government’s supportive stance.

Indonesia's Relations with Western Countries

• Indonesia has friendly relations with several Western nations:
  • The Netherlands, France, Italy, and President De Gaulle.

Indonesia's Withdrawal from the United Nations

• Indonesia is the only nation to withdraw from the UN, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of independence and the UN.
• Soekarno refutes the idea of the withdrawal being impulsive, emphasizing a long-standing critique of the UN.

Critique of the UN

• Soekarno's speech in 1960 called for the reorganization of the UN to reflect current global realities, not just 1945.
• Emphasis on the need for representation of new Asian and African states.

Suggested Changes to the UN

• Need for the UN to accurately reflect contemporary world life.
• Critique of the Security Council's effectiveness as part of the UN structure.
• Soekarno indicates dissatisfaction with the current UN organization and suggests potential revisions.

Possibility of Rejoining the UN

• Indonesia may consider rejoining the UN only after organizational reforms are made.