Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has cancelled his planned trip to China as nationwide protests continue to escalate following the death of a demonstrator struck by a police vehicle.
Prabowo had been scheduled to attend Beijing’s “Victory Day” parade on September 3, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and Japan’s formal surrender. However, the president decided to remain in the country to personally monitor the unrest, which has spread from Jakarta to several regions where parliament buildings have been set on fire.
“The president wants to continue monitoring the situation in Indonesia directly and seek the best solutions,” presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said in a video statement on Saturday. “Therefore, the president apologises to the Chinese government that he could not attend the invitation.”
The protests, seen as the first major challenge to Prabowo’s government since taking office nearly a year ago, began earlier this week in Jakarta over lawmakers’ allowances. Tensions deepened after a police vehicle fatally ran over a motorcycle rider during the demonstrations, fueling public anger and intensifying the clashes.
With the unrest showing no signs of slowing down, Prabowo’s decision underscores the gravity of the crisis and his intent to address domestic concerns before engaging in international diplomacy.
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