Invisible Agent in Taiwan-Indonesia Cooperation1

Rangga Aditya Elias2

The attempts of Taiwan to increase relations with Indonesia have been conducting since
many years ago both through formal and informal channels. Cases through formal
channels like the Taipei Economic and Trade Office’s operation and Lee Teng-Hui
“diplomatic vacation” in 1994 have exemplified the efforts. On the other hand, informal
channels are built upon Taiwan scholarships, conferences and academic exchanges of
visit. However, although Taiwan has been showing a serious interest to increase the
relations with Indonesia, the rise of the China phenomenon has created a barrier to these
efforts. This situation makes formal channels between Taiwan and Indonesia harder to
upgrade significantly.
Meanwhile, although Taiwan also establishes informal relations particularly with the
academic institutions through scholarships, conferences and academic exchanges of
visit, those attempts still do not bring about significant results. The focus of Taiwan
government seemingly is still on how to maintain this informal relation by establishing
cooperations with Indonesia institutions, but it arguably overlooks the resource of
Indonesian students in Taiwan. Currently, there are at least 2,300 Indonesian Students
studying on various programs in Taiwan. These students come from diversified
backgrounds, ethnicity and professions.
This paper, therefore, is aimed to examine potential factors of Indonesian students in
Taiwan to support Taiwan interest in bilateral cooperation with Indonesia. In order to
seek its potential factor this paper will define Indonesian students’ diversities into three
categories which are overseas Chinese, government officers and scholars. Ethnic
business networks, special economic zones, and second track diplomacy will be used as
parameters to evaluate the potentiality of Indonesian students as an agent of cooperation.
In addition, this paper also tries to give a clear description of Indonesia students’
characteristics in Taiwan by showing their organization and community patterns. In
order to get a valid result, this paper will be conducted with surveys and interviews to
support the secondary data.
Keyword: ethnic business networks, special economic zones, second track
diplomacy, Indonesian student, invisible agent

1
This paper is present in the TASEEAS Conference in May 31st, 2013
2
The author is a Ph.D. candidate in International Doctoral in Asia-Pacific Studies from National
Chengchi University Taipei. Author also the President of Indonesian Student Association in Taiwan.
Author can be contacted at president@ppitaiwan.org or rangga.adityaelias@gmail.com
 Taiwan is one of Indonesia important partners in economic and socio-cultural.

Although there is an absence of Indonesia political recognition to the Republic of China

(Taiwan) but both entities keep sustain their strong economic cooperation which already

started since Indonesia and Taiwan agree to establish a Chamber of Commerce in

Jakarta as well as in Taipei in 1971. This first initiative has been increased in 1989

when Taiwan was allowed to change the name of their Chamber of Commerce in

Jakarta to Taipei Economic and Trade Office, Indonesia. 3 As a reciprocal action,

through Indonesia Presidential Decree no 48/1994, in July 7th, 1994 Indonesia Chamber

of Commerce officially change their name into Indonesia Economic and Trade Office in

Taipei. 4 The establishment of both offices on each side showed a growing strong

relation between both sides.

Since 1990 both parties have been signed many of cooperation agreement both

in economic as well as in socio-cultural. On economic, Indonesia and Taiwan was

agreed to sign a bilateral investment protection and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion

Agreement in 1995. Those two agreements then followed by agreement in the field of

agriculture in 1995, fishery cooperation in 2004, technical cooperation in agriculture in

2006 and MoU in “One Village One Product” (OVOP) in 2010.5 In socio-cultural, high

number of Indonesian migrant workers and increasing number of Indonesian students in

Taiwan have made both sides agree to sign an agreement in the field of labor in

December 17th, 2004 and MoU in the field of higher education in May 21th 2011. Latest

cooperation agreement between both entities is the Letter of Intent on Morotai

3
Taipei Economic and Trade Office Jakarta “Kondisi Hubungan Bilateral antara Taiwan dan Indonesia”
accessed from http://www.roc-taiwan.org/ID/ct.asp?xItem=144651&CtNode=9323&mp=292&xp1=, in
March 31st 2013.
4
IETO Taipei (2010) ” Informasi Singkat Tentang Taiwan,”IETO, Taipei, p. 2
5
Taipei Economic and Trade Office Jakarta, Op. Cit.
Development Project in 2012 where Indonesia and Taiwan was agreed to establish a

Special Economic Zone in Morotai Island. 6

Table 1. Cooperation Agreement between Indonesia and Taiwan

Year Name Field

1990 Bilateral investment protection Economic
1995 Prevention of fiscal evasion agreement Economic
1995 Agreement in the field of agriculture Economic
2004 MoU in fishery cooperation Economic
2004 Agreement in the field of labor Socio-cultural
2006 MoU in technical cooperation in agricultural Economic
2010 MoU in “One Village One Product” (OVOP) Economic
2011 MoU in the field of higher education Socio-cultural
2012 Letter of Intent on Morotai Development Project Economic
Source: compiled from many sources

Although there is a growing strong relation between both sides in the field of

economic and social-cultural showed by many of agreement and cooperation but the

relations still not showing a significant result. Indonesia who adhere one-China policy

principle still maintains its relation with Taiwan carefully. For instance, Indonesia

leader never visit Taiwan while Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines high official were

already visited Taiwan.7 Even the plan of President Chen Shui-bian personal visit for

holiday purposes in Indonesia got a really strong rejection from speakers of Indonesia

MOFA, Mr. Marty Natalegawa.8 Moreover, the Indonesian Economic and Trade Office

in Taipei is not connected with Indonesia Ministry of Foreign Affairs while Malaysia,

Vietnam and Philippines office either under their Ministry of Foreign Affair or there is a

6
Shih Hsiu-chuan “Taiwan, Indonesia ink MOU to develop Indonesian island,” Taipei Times, December
6th, 2012.
7
Taiwan has received several leaders from Southeast Asia during the 1990s,like former Singapore Prime
Minister Goh Chok Tong and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad, and Philippines Vice President Fidel Ramos. See Samuel C. Y. Ku (2009) “Taiwan and
Southeast Asia since Ma Ying-jeou’s Presidency.” East Asia Policy 482 (October 2009) p. 89.
8
In his press release, Mr. Marty Natalegawa (currently is Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs) was
expressed his strong objection for Taiwan President plan to visit Indonesia. See, Tempo “Indonesia
Tolak Kunjungan Presiden Taiwan” accessed from http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2002/12/16/
05534841/Indonesia-Tolak-Kunjungan-Presiden-Taiwan in March 31st 2013.
person from the Ministry of Foreign Affair appointed in their representative office in

Taipei. Singapore even has its own political department in its representative office in

Taipei.9 Every year, Taiwan also invited Indonesia for inter-parliamentary exchange but

many of Indonesia parliament members who have been invited never showed up and

only sent their staff to attend.

In the field of economics, the cooperation still in technical field while in the

investment and trade still very slow and not significant. Number of Taiwan investment

in Indonesia is the lowest among ASEAN-6. (See chart 1). Slow development in

investment progress can be seen very clearly in the case of Foxconn Technology Group

-one of the largest Taiwan corporate- who has been postponing their investment plan to

Indonesia. Although investment is a market driven oriented but government support is

also needed to enhance the investment climate10 The decision of Foxconn to postpone

their investment was happening because the negotiation on tax couldn’t reach

agreement, problem to find a local partner and hard to find an area of their factory.11

This shows lack of support from Indonesia government for Foxconn to build their

business in Indonesia. In trade, although Indonesia and Taiwan economic are

compatible but Indonesia total trade with Taiwan still below Malaysia and Singapore

(see table 2). Even Indonesia is one step behind Singapore who currently is taking a

FTA negotiation with Taiwan. Even the latest economic cooperation in the Morotai

development project still not found any significant progress in establishing the steering

committee which is one of the action plans.

9
Malaysia and Vietnam representative office are under MOFA while Philippines Managing Director and
Resident Representative, MECO Taiwan, Ambassador Antonio I. Basilio is Philippine MOFA official
that specialized in trade negotiation. The Singapore representative office in Taipei has its political
department under the Senior Assistant Trade Representative, Mr Jeremy Sor.
10
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (2000) “United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law Yearbook” Vol. XXXI, United Nations Publiations.
11
“Tiga Sebab Foxconn Tunda Investasi di Indonesia”, Kompas, December 17 th, 2012.
 Chart 1. Amount of Taiwan Investment in
Southeast Asia (in million dollar)
5.43 3.98 Singapore

15.35 Vietnam
38.74
Thailand
Malaysia
12.69
Philippines

23.80 Indonesia

Source: Investment Commssion, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Republic of China

Table 2. Taiwan Top Trading Partners

RANKING COUNTRY NAME AMOUNT

1 CHINA 121,621,186,471
2 JAPAN 66,561,464,334
3 UNITED STATES 56,579,475,382
4 HONG KONG 40,590,735,466
5 SINGAPORE 28,196,383,378
6 KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 26,915,434,375
7 SAUDI ARABIA 16,641,677,798
8 MALAYSIA 14,398,911,372
GERMANY, FEDERAL
9 13,398,598,979
REPUBLIC OF
10 AUSTRALIA 12,940,805,189
11 INDONESIA 12,514,991,290
Source: Ministry of Economic Affairs, Republic of China

In contrary with the cooperation in others field, Indonesia-Taiwan cooperation in

the socio-cultural has been showing a significant progress in tourism, labor and

academic exchange. In tourism, Indonesia is one of the most favorite tourism

destinations for Taiwan. Statistically, there has been 212.826 Taiwanese tourists visited

Indonesia. This number made Indonesia on the third place for Taiwanese destination in
Southeast Asia. 12 In the field of migrant workers before the agreement was signed,

many problems happen with Indonesian workers in Taiwan and made the number of

workers decreasing. It started to bounce back after the agreement was signed and in

2010 Indonesia appointed director of labor department in their representative office in

Taipei.

Chart 2. Number of Indonesian Workers in Taiwan 2000-March 2013

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

50,000

0
2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Source: Sri Setiawati, Director of Labor Department, Indonesia Economic and Trade
Office in Taipei.
In academic exchanges, many of cooperation have been established between

Taiwan and Indonesia. The Taiwan Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta have been

maintaining academic exchange with Universities and research center. There are several

top Indonesian public universities has been becoming partners of TETO such as

University of Indonesia in Jakarta, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember in Surabaya

and University of Brawijaya in Malang. Also cooperation with research center is

12
IETO Taipei (2012) ”Sekilas Hubungan Indonesia-Taiwan,”IETO, Taipei, P. 12.
established with Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia/LIPI (Indonesian Institute of

Sciences) and the Habibie Center. Through those cooperations Taiwan and Indonesia

are conducting academic exchange and research.

Furthermore, through MOE, International Cooperations and Development Fund

(ICDF) and Elite Study in Taiwan (ESIT), Taiwan provides many scholarships for

Indonesian student who has interest to continue their study in Taiwan. The scholarship

fund covers all expenses including life expenses while the student in Taiwan. Moreover

since 2000-2009 there is 55 inter-universities cooperation between both sides that

provide opportunity for Indonesian student to obtain their master or doctoral level under

the dual degree program. Those many opportunities in academic exchange have been

increasing the number of Indonesian students in Taiwan into 1.923 students with diverse

backgrounds like academician, government official, and businessman.

Chart 3. Number of Indonesian Student in Taiwan 2009-2013

2500

1923
2000
1708
1500 1527
1500

1000

500

0
2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013

Source: Ministry of Education, Republic of China.

Different with tourism and labor which is happening because of push and pull

factor that related to market trend, academic exchange is happening through interest
from both sides. On Taiwan side, there is a need to increase Indonesia and Taiwan

discourse through academic exchange while on the other hand, Indonesian student as

intellectual community is hoping for better live once they obtain their degree in Taiwan.

Once they are coming back to Indonesia, there is a big opportunity for them to get

certain position in top managerial level, academic institution as well as government

official which could give positive effect for the development of Indonesia – Taiwan

relation in the future.

From the elaboration above it shows that the relations of Indonesia and Taiwan

in socio-cultural giving more significant result in the development of cooperation

between both sides. Particularly, the cooperation in academic exchange is showing

potentially result in the future. However, although Taiwan already made much effort to

attract Indonesian student but there was no such effort to maintain the Indonesian

student while they were in Taiwan. This situation is creating Indonesian student become

what this paper called as “invisible agent”. Thus, this paper examines the potential of

Indonesian students in Taiwan as one of the factors to support Taiwan interest in

bilateral cooperation with Indonesia. This paper is delivering argument, that Indonesian

students in Taiwan are an agent of cooperation between Indonesia and Taiwan through

its potential factor in ethnic business networks, special economic zones, and second

track diplomacy.

Considering the lack of academic papers that analyze Indonesian student in

Taiwan, this paper is a preliminary research on this particular topic. This paper will try

to a clear description of Indonesia students’ characteristics in Taiwan by showing their

organization and community patterns. In order to support and validate the argument,

several interviews were conducted with key person of the Indonesian student in Taiwan.
Indonesia-Taiwan Academic Cooperation: A Top Down Effort

The cooperation between Indonesia and Taiwan in academic exchange has been

started since 2004 through Taiwan Scholarship program. 13 Every year under the

scholarship program, Taiwan gives ten Indonesian Students a scholarship to continue

their study in Taiwan either in master or doctoral degree. Also through Huayu

Enrichment Scholarship, every year five Indonesian students are selected to study

Mandarin language in Taiwan. Those programs were followed by inter-university

bilateral agreement which until 2009 already conclude 55 agreements.

Table 3. Taiwan Scholarship Recipients and Mandarin Enrichment Scholarship

(2009-2012)
Mandarin Enrichment Scholarship
Year Taiwan Scholarship Recipient
Recipient
2009 9 5
2010 9 5
2011 9 5
2012 10 5

In April 2011, Taiwan’s Ministry of Education invited a distinguished

delegation from Indonesia to discuss deeper academic cooperation. The delegations

from the Indonesia side are Dr. Djoko Santoso, Director General of Higher Education,

Ministry of National Education, Dr. Supriadi Rustad, Director for Academic &

Supporting Human Resources, and Dr. Herry Suhardiyanto, Rector of Bogor

Agricultural University. In this meeting, both sides discussed three main topics which

are MOU between Indonesia and Taiwan on Higher Education cooperation, research

cooperation, and teaching staff with scholarships offered by the Indonesian Ministry of

13
Taipei Economic and Trade Office Jakarta, Op. Cit.
National Education to pursue master’s or Ph.D. degrees in Taiwan.14 In order to follow

up April meeting, in May 21th 2011, for the first time Minister of Education from both

entities conducted Taiwan-Indonesia Higher Education Summit in Bali Indonesia. In

that meeting Dr. Wu Ching-Ji, Minister of Education, Taiwan discussed with his

counterpart Dr. Muhammad Nuh, Minister of Education, Indonesia and agreed to sign

MoU in the field of higher education. This MoU covers cooperation in six academic

areas such as academic exchange, providing scholarship, developing bilateral programs,

training educational administrators and teachers, facilitating joint research &

international publications and Mutual Recognition of Degrees and Professional

Qualifications. 15 In addition this the summit also concluded to host the 1st Taiwan-

Indonesia Higher Education Forum, 2012, in Taipei at the National Taiwan University

of Science and Technology and to cultivate the “Indonesian Professional Training

Project between MONE, Indonesia and MOE, Taiwan”.

Currently Indonesia is the third largest in terms of foreign students studying in

Taiwan.16 Since the summit was held, the number of Indonesian students is increasing

rapidly in Taiwan. The annual growth rate in 2011 is only 2% while in 2012 is 12% and

reach 13% in 2013. It predicted for 2011-2016 the increasing number of Indonesian

students in Taiwan would reach 1.000 students.

14
Prof. Tony W. T. Lin (2012) “The development of Educational Cooperation between Taiwan and
Indonesia,” Bureau of International and Educational Relations, Ministry of Education, Taiwan. P. 9.
Presented in The 1st Taiwan-Indonesia Higher Education Summit 2012, 16 April 2012.
15
Ibid.
16
“Foreign student numbers almost double since 2007,” Taipei Times, January 22 nd 2012.
 Table 4. Annual Growth of Indonesian Student Studying in Taiwan 2010-2012

School Year Total Growth (%)

2009/2010 1500 -
2010/2011 1527 2
2011/2012 1708 12
2012/2013 1923 13

In order to support this potential growth, in 2011 the Taiwan Ministry of

Education also funded the establishment of Taiwan Education Center (TEC) in

Surabaya, a non-profit organization that has a goal to promote higher education in

Taiwan and strengthen bilateral academic exchange between Taiwan and Indonesia.17

As an Education center, TEC is operated to fulfill several services whereas:18

For Indonesian

1. To provide information about Taiwan tertiary institution’s related academics,

cultural activities, enrollment, scholarships and about life in Taiwan

2. To participate in overseas education exhibitions held locally in Indonesia

3. To hold the annual Taiwan Higher Education Exhibition in Indonesia

4. To set up the “Taiwan Education Center” website and release publications regularly

in order to provide updates on Taiwan’s current education and the latest information

about study in Taiwan, academic exchange activities, culture exchanges of Taiwan

and Indonesia, and many others.

17
TEC Offcial Website “About TEC” accessed from http://portal.tecindonesia.com/?page_id=13&lang=en
in April 8th 2013.
18
Ibid.
For Taiwanese

1. To collect and provide information about universities in Indonesia and their current

developments.

2. To assist Taiwan institutions to establish academic exchange channels, organize

various academic meetings or activities, and enhance bilateral higher education

academic and administrative staff exchanges.

As a response of those many attempts from Taiwan side, Indonesia effort to

enhance the academic cooperation with Taiwan is doing by launch “DIKTI Bridging

Program” under Directorate of Higher Education, Ministry of National Education in

2012. This program is a pre master and doctoral degree scholarship for academician

from the universities in Indonesia to stay for three months in one of the universities in

Taiwan. The goal of this program is to grant an access for an Indonesian academician to

Taiwan and at the end of the program the recipient expected would get a Letter of

Acceptance (LoA) from the university in Taiwan. The bridging program already

conducted twice in two batch. The first batch was followed by 85 persons and the

second one was followed by 144 academicians from various backgrounds.19

Even though the cooperation has been established in academic exchange but it

only happens in a top-down effort. Bottom-up efforts such as joint research between

scholars from both sides rarely conducted. It can be seen obviously that there is little

research collaborations and publication that involve scholars from both sides. The

publication which involves scholars from Indonesia and Taiwan were only happening

when the academician still become a student in Taiwan by collaborating with their

19
Indonesian Ministry of Education, “Bridging Program”accessed from http://www.dikti.go.id
/?p=8738&lang=id in April 19th, 2013
Professor. Once the student graduated and come back to their institution in Indonesia,

there is no such collaboration project in research. The only successful research project

between Indonesia and Taiwan scholars is only LIPI-CIER project on “Indonesia-

Taiwan relations on the dynamic and current status of Indonesia-Taiwan relations”.20 It

has to be stressed here that LIPI is an Indonesian government research institution. In

fact, this joint research activity has strengthen there’s no significant support for bottom

up effort from both entities in academic exchange. The potential factor of Indonesian

student in Taiwan as agent of cooperation for both entities remains invisible.

Indonesia Student Characteristic: Agents of Change

Since the early history of Indonesia, student has played an important role in the

development both in Nation building as well as in state building. Indonesian student

through their intellectual thought has organized themselves in contributed for Indonesia

development which also known as Indonesian student movement. The first Indonesian

student movement happened in the establishment of Boedi Oetomo, the first

organization of Indonesian student movement in the Dutch imperial period. 21 This

organization was aimed to raise awareness among Indonesian people about the

importance of education in the struggle of independence. In 1928, the student became a

pioneer in unity Indonesia. In the event which also known as “Youth Pledge”, for the

first time the idea of unity Indonesia was introduced by the students. They were

declared to overcome ethnic differences and build an Indonesia unity by realizing three

principles, one nation, one country and one language of Indonesia. This event was

20
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China, http://www.mofa.gov.tw/EnPDA/News/Detail
/9b535d16-6f22-4742-b144-5b6a41815a04?arfid=0b060a2d-e921-4f32-893b-821c252eb4f9
21
Meredith Leigh Weiss and Edward Aspinall (2012) “Student Activism in Asia: Between Protest and
Powerlessness” University of Minnesota, p. 153-154.
attended by students from all across Nusantara were among them there was also

Soekarno who became the first Indonesian president in 1945.22

The Indonesian student movement and struggle also took an important role in

the Independence day of Indonesia. After the youth pledge event, student movement in

Indonesia always called by their angkatan (generation). An Indonesian student in 1945

also called as angkatan 45 did a very heroic action to kidnap Soekarno and Hatta in

order to force them to announce the proclamation of Indonesia. Student in angkatan 45

was organized under “Pemuda Menteng 31” an organization of student who struggle for

Indonesia independence. Historically speaking, Indonesian student has played important

role in every dramatic event in Indonesia state building. Every important change in

Indonesia history always involved student movement. This characteristic made

Indonesia student also recognized as the “agent of change”.

In the era of Indonesia first president or also known as old order, the Indonesian

student movement also played important role they organized themselves in the extra

campus organization and did a big demonstration in asserting president Soekarno to step

down from the presidential office because of his poor of economic achievement and

performance. Moreover, the fall down of president Soeharto who not agree with his

authoritarian leadership, also initiated by the student who organized themselves through

campus executive bodies and extra campus organizations.23

Since the early beginning until nowadays, Indonesian student always has their

militancy, organization oriented and critical thought as their characteristics. Many of big

22
Mikaela Nyman (2006) “Democratising Indonesia: The Challenges of Civil Society in the Era of
Reformasi,” NIAS Press, p. 61.
23
Michael R J Vatikiotis (2004) “Indonesian Politics Under Suharto: The Rise and Fall of the New Order,”
Routledge, p. 218-221.
changing above have proven their characteristics. In short , this characteristic is a whole

package of agent of change for Indonesia better future.

Indonesian Student in Taiwan: Various Backgrounds, One Characteristic

As mention above, the number of Indonesian students in Taiwan has been

growing rapidly into 1.923 in 2013. This number is included International degree

seeking, overseas Chinese student (OCS), Chinese Language Center (CLC) student and

exchange student. International degree seeking student are those who seek for degree in

Taiwan from undergraduate level until doctoral level except Indonesian student from

Chinese ethnic. Their total number to 2013 is 1.055. OCS is an Indonesian student from

Chinese ethnic who seeking for degree in Taiwan. According to Taiwan government

statistic total number of OCS in 2013 is 800. Both international degree seeking students

and OCS is studying in Taiwan for more than 1 year depend on their degree and

achievement. In contrast, student at CLC and exchange student only have limited time

of stay in Taiwan. In common, their program finished in six months to 1 year. CLC

student is those who learning Mandarin in Mandarin Language Center while exchange

student is those who join an exchange program for a short period. A number of

Indonesian students who enroll in the CLC is 868 in 2013 while there is no student join

the exchange program in 2013.

 Chart 4. Detail Number of Indonesian Student in Taiwan by

1200
1055
1000 913
877 868
784 793 International Degree
777 747 800
800 740 764 Seeking
615 OCS
600
CLC
400
Exchange
200
8 3 2 0
0
2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013

Source: Ministry of Education, Republic of China.

Most of . International degree seeking student is taking either master or doctoral

degree while OCS mostly took undergraduate degree. The International degree seeking

student enroll in Taiwan through several programs of scholarship like Taiwan

Scholarship Program, ICDF scholarship, Indonesian Ministry of Education scholarship,

Government of Aceh Scholarship, dual degree scholarship, 24 and local university

scholarship. It can be said that International degree seeking student get scholarship from

various sources of funds. On the contrary, an Indonesian student who recognized as

OCS is not eligible to get scholarship according to Taiwan government regulation. Thus,

all of them paid the tuition, dorm and living expenses by themselves.

Based on the statistical data provided by Source: Ministry of Education,

Republic of China the largest number of Indonesia international degree seeking student

24
A dual degree is inter-universities program to obtain master by enrolling in Indonesian university for
one year and Taiwan university for another year. They got scholarship for tuition and dorm in Taiwan
from the university in Taiwan and various level of subsidy for live expenses in Taiwan from their
university in Indonesia.
take engineering as their field of studies with total 383, followed by business and

administration with total number 253 and humanities 72 students. The high number of

these three field is corresponding with the demand in Indonesia job market. On the other

hand, field like human ecology, social service, vet., and law is getting small number of

studentt because the demand in Indonesia for this certain field still small.

Chart 5. Detail Number of Indonesian Student by Field of Study

450 383
400
350
300 253
250
200
150 72
100 44 36 29 48 34
8 21 26 21 1 8 21 17 1 0
24
1 7
50
0

Source: Ministry of Education, Republic of China.

Category of Indonesian students in Taiwan by Background

In general Indonesian student in Taiwan can be categories into three different

backgrounds. The first one is a student who has a background as a government officer,

second is a student who has a background as scholars and third is a student who has a

background as overseas Chinese

 A student who has a background as a government officer usually comes from

Aceh province. Many of them is an officer in Aceh local and municipal level

government. Aceh government through Lembaga Peningkatan Sumber Daya Manusia

Aceh (Aceh Human Resource Improvement Agency) give a scholarship to citizens of

Aceh. Since 2009 there was a significant increasing of Student from this particular

province in Indonesia. Although it's hard to find an exact number of government officer

from Aceh who enroll in Taiwan universities but in the general government of Aceh

sent 27 students to obtain master and doctoral degree in Taiwan. The number increasing

year by year where in 2010 33 students and 2011 40 students.25

Table 5. Indonesian Student from Aceh 2007-2011

Undergraduate Master Doctoral Total

2007 2 7 3 12
2008 2 6 1 9
2009 - 22 5 27
2010 - 31 2 33
2011 1 37 2 40
Source: Aceh Human Resource Improvement Agency

A student who has a background as scholar come from many universities in

Indonesia especially mostly from Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember and University

of Brawijaya, while few of them come from the University of Indonesia and Syiah

Kuala University. It is interesting to be stressed here that almost of the scholars who

obtain their degree in Taiwan come from a public university in Indonesia. Usually they

seek for doctoral degree in Taiwan in order to support their career in the university once

they graduate. Their number increases rapidly since many of scholarship opportunity

offers by Taiwan government in 2000’s.

25
Lembaga Peningkatan Sumber Daya Manusia Aceh, Access from http://lpsdm.acehprov.go.
id/index.php/data in April 23the, 2013.
 The last category for Indonesian student in Taiwan is those who came from

Chinese overseas. Most of them is taking an undergraduate degree in Taiwan as come

from a business family in Indonesia. They come from several cities in Indonesia

especially Surabaya, Medan and the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta. Compare to the

previous category, the Chinese overseas student has already chosen Taiwan as one of

their study destination since 60’s. Many of them after graduating from school either

continue to obtain their master degree or come back home to help their family business.

Only few of them reside in Taiwan.

Indonesian Student Organizations

Even though came from various backgrounds, level of education, province and

institutions, the characteristic of Indonesian student in Taiwan remains similar with their

precursor as agent of change. They have critical though and like to be active in

organization. In Taiwan there are three Indonesian student organization in national level.

Those organizations are Persatuan Pelajar Indonesia di Taiwan/PERPITA (Indonesian

Overseas Chinese Student Association in Taiwan), Forum Mahasiswa Muslim

Indonesia di Taiwan/FORMMIT (Forum of Indonesian Muslim Student in Taiwan), and

Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia di Taiwan/PPI Taiwan (Indonesian Student Association

in Taiwan)

PERPITA

PERPITA or in Chinese 台灣印尼僑生聯誼會 is the first Indonesia student

organization in Taiwan. The member of the organization was an Indonesian overseas

Chinese student who studying in Taiwan. Almost all of the member is still in the

undergraduate degree. PERPITA was established in 1960 in National Cheng Kung

University, Tainan and chaired by a Chairman with his/her administrators. When it first

established PERPITA member was only 35 students. In recent year, the growing

number of Indonesian students in Taiwan has made PERPITA has more or less 300

students all across Taiwan.

The idea to established PERPITA was coming from many issues face by an

Indonesian overseas Chinese student in Taiwan because of cultural differences and lack

of communication among Indonesian students. Through PERPITA they were trying to

help each other to solve many issues. PERPITA is affiliated with Ikatan Citra Alumni

Taiwan se-Indonesia/ICATI where base in Jakarta, an association of alumni of

Indonesian student who obtain their degree in Taiwan.

The membership of PERPITA is limited to Indonesian overseas Chinese student

and they who want to become PERPITA member have to apply and paid a membership

fee. PERPITA source of fund mostly comes from ICATI, Indonesian Overseas Chinese

Overseas and membership fee. In activity, their annual activity is Pekan Olahraga

PERPITA (PERPITA Sport Festival). A part of sport activity, this activity has also

become an occasion for all members to elect a new leader of PERPITA.

FORMMIT

FORMMIT or in Chinese 台灣印尼學生穆斯林論壇 is an Indonesian student

organization in Taiwan who applied Islamic tenet as their platform of the organization.

FORMMIT was established in 2006 through the 1st Muktamar (an Islamic way of

congress) in Taichung. The idea of FORMMIT establishment was coming from a

mailing list of Indonesian Muslim student in National Taiwan University of Science and

Technology. The student in mailing list feels about a need to establish an organization
for communication among Muslim students as well as a platform for Islamic

proselytizing. Most of FORMMIT members are Indonesian student in master and

doctoral degree.

FORMMIT is a cadre organization that chaired by a President. The President of

FORMMIT helped by his administration and several Governors (regional coordinator).

The membership of FORMMIT is limited to Indonesian Muslim student in Taiwan,

prospective members have to apply and free of membership fee. The source of

FORMMIT funding came from Indonesia Economic and Trade Office in Taipei,

Indonesian company which operate in Taiwan and member donations. Although

FORMMIT is a student organization, but many activities conducted either for

Indonesian migrant workers or in collaboration with Indonesian migrant workers'

organizations in Taiwan. Aside of muktamar as their leadership succession mechanism

which held annually, their annual and biggest program is the Annual International

Scholars Conference in Taiwan/AISCT (formerly was Annual Indonesian Scholars

Conference in Taiwan). This conference is aimed to conduct technological transfer from

Taiwan to Indonesia.

PPI Taiwan

The latest organization of Indonesian student in Taiwan is PPI Taiwan or in

Chinese 台灣印尼學生聯合會 which established in May 2nd, 2010 and Chung Yuan

Christian University, Chungli. The declaration of PPI Taiwan was signed by the head of

Indonesian Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan, Mr. Suhartono and the chairman of

declaration team, Mr. Hadi Kuntjara as representative of Team 12.26 The idea for the

26
Team 12 is a formulation team of PPI Taiwan that consist of representative from Indonesian student
from North, Center and South Taiwan.
establishment of PPI Taiwan came from the need of Indonesian student in Taiwan to

have an organization for all students. The idea already discussed since 2005 with head

of IETO and through dialog with Indonesian Minister of Education, Mr. Bambang

Sudibyo in 2006. Moreover, in 2007 the Indonesian student started to create a mailing

list for all of Indonesian student in Taiwan. Many of cyber meetings conducted to

discuss the organization model in 2008-2009 and to disseminate the idea of this very

first nationalist organization for Indonesian student. Furthermore by the endorsement of

PPI in the university level from NTUST, Tainan, CYCU and NCU then the Indonesian

student in Taiwan was established.

In contrast with previous two Indonesian student organization, PPI Taiwan

membership according to their constitution is automatically applied for all of Indonesian

degree seeking student in Taiwan. It means that the membership is free and its not

necessary for prospective member to apply. PPI Taiwan has two bodies, executive and

legislative. (See figure 1) The legislative bodies are elected from every university in

Taiwan which has Indonesian student. The number of chairs for every university

depends various on the number of Indonesian students in that university. The legislature

has annual special sessions every year to elect the head of executive with one man-one

vote mechanism. The executive is chaired by a chairman and help by his/her

administrative.
 Figure 1. PPI Taiwan Organizational Structure

Legislative Bodies Executive Bodies

University Level

PPI Taiwan has a network all across the world with another PPI from another

country. In the worldwide, PPI Taiwan is affiliated with PPI Dunia (Overseas

Indonesian Student Association Alliance/OISAA) as the only overseas Indonesian

student organization who recognized by the Indonesian government. In the region, PPI

Taiwan is coordinated with Asia – Oceania Regional Coordinator. (See figure 2)

Figure 2. PPI Taiwan Network Wordwide

PPI Dunia

Asia and Oceania

Regional Coordniator

PPI ASEAN

PPI State Level

(ie: PPI Taiwan)

 In Taiwan, PPI Taiwan main partners are PPI in university level and IETO is the

strategic partner. Recently there has been 8 PPI in the university level in National

Taiwan University of Science and Technology, National Chengchi University, Chinese

Culture University, National Central University, Chung Yuan Christian University, Asia

University, National Dong Hwa University and National Pingtung University of Science

and Technology. There is one PPI in the Regional level in Tainan, PPI Tainan where

their member is from three universities in Tainan, National Cheng Kung University,

National University of Tainan and Southern Taiwan University of Science and

Technology. (See table 6)

Table 6. PPI in University and Regional Level

Name of PPI Location

NTUST ISA Taipei
NCCU ISA Taipei
PPI CCU Taipei
PPI NCU Chungli
PPI CYCU Chungli
AU ISA Taichung
PPI Tainan Tainan
PPI NDHU Hualien
NPUST ISA Pingtung

Almost all of the activity of PPI Taiwan is funded by IETO and few of the

source fund get from Indonesian corporates in Taiwan. The activity of PPI Taiwan is

conducting research as a policy recommendation for IETO, held a student capacity

building, held entrepreneurship training both for student and Indonesian migrant

workers, conducting charity and sport event, established a network with Taiwan

academic institutions and as a communication center for all of Indonesian student in

Taiwan.

In sum, from the explanation above, the Indonesian student organization in a

national level in Taiwan consists of three organizations The member of PERPITA and

FORMMIT is also a member of PPI Taiwan while the member of PERPITA is not

member of FORMMIT and vice versa. The comparison between those three

organizations can be seen below in table 7.

Figure 3. Indonesian Student Organization in Taiwan Member Coverage

PPI Taiwan

FORMMIT PERPITA
 Figure 7. Comparison of Indonesian Student Organization in Taiwan

Name Platform Year of establishment Membership

PERPITA Ethnic 1960 Limited to Indonesian
Chinese overseas, have
a membership fee,
need to apply.
FORRMIT Religion 2006 Limited to Indonesian
Muslim students, free
membership fee, need
to apply.
PPI Taiwan Nationalist 2010 Open to all of
Indonesian Student in
Taiwan, free
membership fee,
Automatically applied

Invisible Agent in Indonesia Taiwan Cooperation

In general, the understanding of agent in IR is individuals working singly or in

groups which embedded in the social and cultural institution of the states and represent

as foreign policy decision makers.27 Although agent perspective on the world has been

shaped by their institutions, yet agents could navigate the structure of international

relations which can bring opportunities and constraints. In the agent-structure debate,

there is a moment where agents could influence the structure and give opportunities to

the structure, on the contrary there also certain time where agent only has little

opportunity to reshape the structure. Agent also can be seen as an institution or

organization which has create and shape their expectation to influence the behavior of

the government. It can happen because agent is involved in the flow of information and

possibilities of negotiation and opportunity for government to watch the compliance of

27
Sebastian Harnisch, et. all. (2011) “The Role Theory in International Relations,” Taylor & Francis, p.
16
other government.28 Through this process agent can influence the government behavior

to establish cooperation with one crucial condition, both states have mutual interest.

The elaboration above has shown the potential of Indonesian student as agent of

change. They could reshape the behavior of the government and deliver an opportunity

to the states to establish cooperation. The state also has to put certain attention to the

agent in order to adequate in delivering the opportunity to reshape the structure. If the

state was neglecting the potential power of agent to reshape the structure then the

structure would remain status quo. At this certain point, agent becomes invisible.

At least there are three potential factors in Indonesian student as agent of cooperation in

Indonesia-Taiwan relations. First, its potentials in creating ethnic business networks,

second, in creating special economic zones and third as second track diplomacy.

Ethnic business networks

The family background of Indonesia overseas Chinese students who come from

business has created a potential factor for the Taiwan government to establish more

cooperation with Indonesian counterpart. Ethnic similarity as Chinese ethnic supported

with business background could establish ethnic business networks between Indonesia

and Taiwan. The ethnic business network is one of informal economic integration which

would bind to deeper cooperation.29 Their connections are really strong and build upon

mutual trust between individuals and more firm than a legal contract. They often ignore

political problem and the differences that occurred from state political behavior.

28
Stefanans Heuser, Hans Günter Ulrich (2007) “Political Practices and International Order: Proceedings
of the Annual Conference of the Societas Ethica, Oxford 2006,” LIT Verlag Münster p. 61-63.
29
Dajin Peng (2002) “Invisible Linkages: A Regional Perspective of East Asian Political Economy,”
International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 46, No. 3 Sep., 2002, . 425.
 Based on the interview that has been conducting to one of key person in

Indonesia overseas Chinese student, they are seen Taiwan as a potential partner for

cooperation. According to the interviewee, most of the Indonesia overseas Chinese

students once they finish their study, would like to go back home to help their family

business. Yet, when it related to the question of what kind of cooperation is possible to

be conducted between Taiwan and Indonesia, the source person still confuses because

of lack of information from Taiwan side. The interviewee only said there is no effort

from Taiwan government to explain the future opportunity to them. The universities

also only ask them to promote and recommend their friend to study in Taiwan especially

in their university.

It has to be stressed here that almost of 60% of Indonesian economic are run

under Indonesian Chinese people. They are playing a major role in Indonesia economic.

They come from rich people that make them possible to pay the tuition fee and living

cost by themselves. Lack of effort to maintain the information of Taiwan to them would

make their potential become invisible.

Special economic zones

Aceh is well known as one of the special autonomous region in Indonesia. Under

the Act No. 11 year 2006 about Aceh Government, this province could establish their

own international economic cooperation with foreign country. In order to fulfill that

effort, Aceh is planning to set up their representative office in several foreign

countries.30 They really expected that this effort could make investment come to Aceh

and develop Aceh in the near future.

As mentioned above, many students from Aceh are government officials. As

government official they have a rally close access to the decision making in Aceh.

According to the resource person, Taiwan is one of the potential foreign partners that

compatible to develop Aceh. The natural resource in Aceh with Taiwan capital and

technology is complemented each other. The resource person said, the Government of

Aceh is considering Taiwan as one of future partners especially to build special

economic zone. A special economic zone is a particular free trade area that doesn't

involve the entire bodies of all participating economic31 A special economic zone could

connect several economic and give a benefit like free trade area. But lack of channel and

network for Aceh student to have a connection with Taiwan government make this

potential factor become invisible

According to the resource person, several attempts have been made through

IETO to get information and connection to reach Taiwan government. But the

development really slow and until now there is no significant contact between Aceh

government and Taiwan government. In follow up the question about what kind of

treatments was given by the Taiwanese government to student from Aceh, the

interviewee answer there is nothing except assistance for the student through ESIT once

they arrived in Taiwan. Lack of attention to Indonesian student from Aceh makes

Taiwan lost a big opportunity to establish deeper economic cooperation.

30
“Ini alasan Pemerintah Aceh dirikan perwakilan di beberapa negara strategis” http://atjeh.co/
read/2013/05/04/50440/17/7/Ini-alasan-Pemerintah-Aceh-dirikan-perwakilan-di-beberapa-negara-
strategis.
31
Dajin Peng, Op. Cit.
Second track diplomacy

The Indonesian student who came from scholar background can be an agent for

second track diplomacy. In a short word, second track diplomacy is a non-traditional

approach of bargaining with counterpart. Scholars have a certain relation with

government through their research as an academic paper for policy recommendations.

By maintaining deeper relations with scholar from many universities then the Taiwan

effort for second track diplomacy can succeed. On the contrary, collaboration with only

few academic institutions won’t give any significant result.

Many of Indonesian student in Taiwan are scholars from various universities.

According to the interview that has been conducted with key person from scholars,

Indonesian scholars who are studying in Taiwan only fulfill their pragmatic purposes.

They come only to obtain their degree to get better position in their institution. Actually

those scholars see Taiwan as one of the potential research and academic exchange

partner. Yet, lack of initiative from the Taiwan side to maintain the network with

Indonesian scholars whom studying in Taiwan make the situation of opportunity lost

happen. The efforts of the Taiwan government to them stop until giving scholarship

without any follow up effort. Moreover, the resource person said there is no certain

academic activity for them while they are in Taiwan as well as after they finished their

study in Taiwan. Lack of this effort make huge of academic network opportunity

missing. Thus, the Indonesia scholar in Taiwan becomes an invisible agent.

Conclusion

As a preliminary research this paper only elaborate facts about the potential of

Indonesian Student as a cooperation agent to enhance Indonesia-Taiwan cooperation.

This paper found that although there is an increasing number of Indonesian students in

Taiwan but there is still a lack of effort from Taiwan to maintain their presence here.

Taiwan government only promotes their higher education to attract Indonesian student

to studying in Taiwan without any of follow up treatments while they were here. This

situation has been made Taiwan lost an opportunity to create deeper cooperation with

Indonesia and make the Indonesia student become an invisible agent in Taiwan.

In order to develop a solid research on this particular topic, the concept that is

being used in this research still needs development. Also the data of Indonesian student

demography have to be generated in more detail to get a clear picture about the problem

and make the analysis deeper. Future development on this research has to be taken into

serious account. For the time being, let puts this topic invisible for a while.
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