nufix
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Actually Indonesia itself must answer the question what role it seeks in the region? What is its position in the world?
As for ASEAN, at present it does not require a leader who goes ahead and leads the bloc. Its leadership rotates among the member states, and all decisions are based on consensus. All nations are independent entities.
No question, Indonesia, with the largest population and GDP, has important weight. It is only up to your politicians and elites if they are ready to do what you have in mind.
As a mediator of course, and the one that will take charge de facto when things go sour among ASEAN members. Remember the Cambodia's case in the recent ASEAN meeting?
The rotating leadership is what makes ASEAN become vulnerable, not all ASEAN countries want a stable condition. Vietnam and Philippines are having a dispute with China, in the other hand, Laos and possibly Cambodia are siding with the one you are pointing your guns to, while in the meantime countries with good economy conditions like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia want a stable condition for trades and business. And Guess what? the white paper of ASEAN will change every time the chair of leadership rotates from one country to another. Making ASEAN becomes a group of countries with no constant principles.
The question is:
if one country, namely Indonesia, takes a strong stand against external threats by building a massive military force, will Singapore and Malaysia (two traditional rivals to Indonesia) and Thailand support Indonesia's decision both diplomatically and financially? After all, if the war breaks out, the main source of men would be from Indonesia as she has 250 million people, not to mention that she has 20 million poor and unemployed people ready to be sent to war and military factories.
That's the actual thing that raises our concern, if we take a hard move against external threats, will the other neighboring countries support it? especially Cambodia, Laos, and Singapore who have strong foreign presences.