News analysis

Security, foreign policy to exercise candidates' minds during Indonesian presidential election debate

But how Jokowi, Prabowo perform unlikely to affect polls results

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Tonight's (March 30) presidential election debate between the incumbent Joko Widodo and his rival Prabowo Subianto is likely to draw a global audience seeking fresh insights into the key thrusts of Indonesia's strategic and foreign policies.

High on the watchlist will be the country's relations with China and the United States, its intentions in Asean and the wider Indo-Pacific region, as well as its resolve in defending its sovereignty, particularly in the South China Sea.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 30, 2019, with the headline Security, foreign policy to exercise candidates' minds during Indonesian presidential election debate. Subscribe