Perennial Problem: The Chinese Minority in Indonesia

摘要

Indonesia is a land of wide diversity in terms of geology, ecology, mineral resources, and ethnic diversity. A very critical aspect of Indonesian diversity is the 'perennial problem' of the ethnic Chinese minority as it relates to the predominantly Malay majority groups, and as it affects both the domestic security and foreign relations of Indonesia. The cleavage that exists between 'native' Indonesians and the ethnic Chinese is the most explosive source of communal conflict. Although the ethnic Chinese are very much a minority group they exercise a critical influence on key sectors of the Indonesian economy and government policy. (Author)