The 1959–1960 Anti-Chinese Crisis
The 1959–1960 Anti-Chinese Crisis
This chapter addresses the Indonesian government's anti-Chinese acts, which had their origin in long-standing ethnic tensions but were directly triggered by Taipei's aid to regional rebellions against the central government in Jakarta. Although the Chinese Nationalists were the main targets, all the ethnic Chinese were subject to discriminatory policies. Beijing's response to the 1959–60 crisis in Indonesia was restrained. Indonesia under Sukarno's leadership was crucial to the People's Republic of China's “intermediate zone” strategy, which focused on cultivating solidarity with Asian and African countries. In a series of meetings with Indonesian diplomats in late 1959 and early 1960, Chinese foreign minister Chen Yi emphasized that the Chinese Communist leadership did not prioritize the interests of the overseas Chinese over its diplomatic ties with Jakarta. Instead, the PRC's primary goal was to advance friendly relations between Beijing and Jakarta while assisting Indonesia with its economic development. Underneath its reconciliatory attitude, however, Beijing was profoundly dissatisfied that the Indonesian government had singled out the ethnic Chinese while condoning Western exploitation.
Keywords: Indonesian government, anti-Chinese acts, Chinese Nationalists, ethnic Chinese, discriminatory policies, Beijing, Chinese Communist leadership, overseas Chinese, diplomatic ties, Jakarta
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