Education Mobility as ‘Bridges’ The Case of Indonesian Students in China

This chapter focuses on contemporary Indonesian student mobility to China, examining the historical complexities of the Indonesia–China relationship and recent state efforts to stimulate bilateral cooperation in diverse fields, particularly through educational mobility. Student mobility is considered a strategy for fostering ‘people-to-people exchanges’, with students viewed as embodiments of diplomatic and socio-political resources dispatched to fulfill bridging missions. Through their studies in China, students are expected to generate useful knowledge and social capital, positioning Indonesian students as the ‘bridge’ connecting Chinese and Indonesian societies, which provides the basis for a ‘sustainable partnership’ and a ‘common future’. Drawing on qualitative research that includes comprehensive desk research on the changing socio-political context, semi-structured interviews with 43 students, and participatory observation during fieldwork visits, this chapter critically analyzes student mobility as a bridging mechanism. It provides a historical overview of the politics and policies affecting student mobility and outlines significant institutions regulating this movement.

The findings underline the importance of geo-cultural politics, highlighting the historical turbulence in Indonesia–China relations and the persistent ‘fear’ of China and communism in Indonesia. The paper focuses on the experiences of Chinese-Indonesian students, whose expected roles as bridges are complicated by their diaspora identity. These students often navigate complex paths of identity reconstruction during and after their studies. While there is a strong interest among Indonesian students and graduates in serving as bridges between China and Indonesia, past political turmoil between the two countries and the socio-political risks associated with ‘being Chinese’ present challenges. Ultimately, students are creative and self-driven in their bridging efforts, demonstrating that their interpretations and commitments to this role are dynamic and evolving over time.