Indonesia in the Shadows of Global Narratives
- ISI Secretariat
- Sep 16
- 4 min read
By: Dr. Surya Wiranto, SH, MH*
The author is a retired Rear Admiral of the Indonesian Navy, Advisor to Indo-Pacific Strategic Intelligence (ISI), Senior Advisory Group member of IKAHAN Indonesia–Australia, Lecturer at the Postgraduate Program on Maritime Security at the Indonesian Defense University, Head of the Kejuangan Department at PEPABRI, Member of FOKO, and Executive Director of the Indonesia Institute for Maritime Studies (IIMS). He is also active as a Lawyer, Receiver, and Mediator at the Legal Jangkar Indonesia law firm.
Introduction
In September 2025, a military parade in Beijing sparked global controversy, not due to China’s show of military might, but because of a symbolic incident involving Indonesia’s representation. President Prabowo Subianto’s presence on the Tiananmen Square balcony, standing alongside Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, sent a complex geopolitical signal. China was keen to show that its partners were not limited to authoritarian states, but also included one of the world’s largest democracies from the Global South.
Yet when major Japanese and Western media outlets reported the event, Prabowo was cropped out of the photographs, dramatically altering the political meaning.
This article analyzes the controversy through the See–Judge–Act framework and employs Fishbone Analysis to trace its underlying causes and narrative implications. It concludes that the photo-cropping incident reflects an ongoing battle over global narratives between the West, China, and the Global South, while testing Indonesia’s strategy of “independent and active” foreign policy.
The Parade and Its Symbolism
The Beijing parade on 3 September 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. It featured one of China’s largest-ever displays of military strength: thousands of troops marching across Tiananmen Square, heavy tanks rolling through wide boulevards, and ballistic missiles showcased before global media. But the centerpiece was not the weapons, it was the arrangement of leaders on the main balcony, a stage carefully choreographed with political intent.
Xi Jinping stood at the center, flanked by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. What surprised the world was the presence of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, positioned prominently just a few steps from Xi. This placement was no accident. By including the head of state from the world’s third-largest democracy, China projected the message that its partnerships extend beyond an “authoritarian bloc.” Indonesia’s presence offered symbolic legitimacy for Beijing in the eyes of developing nations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Yet this symbolism shifted when major outlets such as Yomiuri Shimbun, Financial Times, and The Guardian cropped Prabowo out of their coverage. The resulting narrative reinforced the image of an “authoritarian axis”—with no place for Indonesia.
Problem Analysis
To understand the roots of this issue, a Fishbone (Ishikawa) Analysis helps break down contributing factors. The central problem: “The disappearance of Indonesia’s representation in the global narrative of China’s 2025 parade.”
Several categories emerge:
Media and framing.
Western media have long relied on the simple storyline of China aligning with Russia and North Korea. Including Prabowo complicates that narrative, as his presence demonstrates the legitimacy offered by a major democracy. While photo-cropping can be justified for visual clarity, in geopolitics it becomes a deliberate narrative choice.
Global political dynamics.
The West—especially the United States and its allies—seeks to contain China’s influence by framing Beijing’s alliances as purely authoritarian. Prabowo’s presence as a democratic leader from the Global South undermines that narrative.
Indonesia’s domestic politics.
At the time of the parade, Indonesia was facing major protests over corruption and social inequality. Prabowo’s appearance abroad as a symbol of legitimacy contrasted sharply with domestic criticism portraying him as inattentive to public unrest. Foreign media may have preferred to sidestep this paradox, opting instead for a simpler “authoritarian axis” storyline.
Global public perception.
In much of the Global South, Prabowo’s role in Beijing was seen as recognition of Indonesia’s rising importance in a multipolar world. In contrast, the West’s omission reinforced perceptions that third-world democracies remain excluded from the core of global power.
Thus, the cropping was not a mere technical choice, it symbolized the broader struggle over global narratives.
Solutions
Addressing this requires a systematic approach, such as the PDCA cycle (Plan–Do–Check–Act):
Plan: Develop a proactive global communication strategy. Every high-profile international appearance should be coupled with a public diplomacy campaign positioning Indonesia as a bridge between East and West, and between developed and developing worlds.
Do: Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions, Indonesia should counter the cropping narrative by amplifying alternative messaging—that it is not a passive bystander but an active geopolitical player.
Check: Monitor international media responses, particularly in Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Adjust communication tactics when biased representations emerge.
Act: Build closer ties with non-Western media outlets such as Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, or African networks, to project Indonesia’s democratic yet independent voice.
Implementation: See–Judge–Act
At the action stage, concrete steps are essential.
First, strengthen media diplomacy.The cropping incident shows that narrative battles can be as critical as traditional diplomacy. Indonesia needs a global media network capable of projecting Jakarta’s perspective without relying on Western filters.
Second, leverage ASEAN diplomacy.By showcasing that a major Southeast Asian democracy can stand alongside China, Indonesia strengthens its regional leadership and credibility.
Third, engage domestic public diplomacy.The government must explain to its citizens that Prabowo’s presence in Beijing is part of a long-term geopolitical strategy, not mere ceremony. Transparency can ease perceptions of dissonance between Indonesia’s global image and domestic realities.
Conclusion
The photo-cropping incident at China’s September 2025 military parade illustrates how global narratives are constructed, contested, and manipulated. Beijing intended Prabowo’s presence to show that its partnerships are not limited to authoritarian regimes but can extend to large Global South democracies. By removing him, Western media reframed the scene into a narrower story of authoritarian solidarity.
Using Fishbone Analysis and the PDCA framework, this article identifies the problem as arising from media choices, global political rivalry, Indonesia’s domestic context, and international perceptions. The proposed solutions highlight the need for integrated media, regional, and public diplomacy.
Indonesia now stands at a crossroads: will this incident weaken its global standing, or strengthen its role as an independent democratic power? What is clear is that a single cropped photo has demonstrated that in modern geopolitics, visual symbolism can be as decisive as military strategies or diplomatic agreements.
This article was originally published in the online magazine rmol.id.
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