Indonesia–Philippines relations



Indonesia–Philippines relations are the bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Philippines. The two countries established diplomatic relations on November 24, 1949. Since then, both countries enjoy cordial bilateral relationship in spirit of kinship. The two countries are considered allies and it is considered as one of the most important bilateral relationships in ASEAN. Both countries have established embassies in each capitals, Indonesia has their embassy in Manila and consulate general in Davao City, while the Philippines has their embassy in Jakarta and consulate general in Manado. High rank stately visits have been conducted for years.

Both nations are the founders of ASEAN and the members of Non-Aligned Movement and APEC. Both countries are members of the East ASEAN Growth Triangle together with Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia in the BIMP-EAGA. Both countries are mainly composed of islands and they both reject territorial claims of the People's Republic of China in the region.

Philippines and Indonesia also share several non-traditional security concerns, including climate change, terrorism, and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic amid the Russo-Ukrainian war and the tension in the Taiwan Strait.

Ancient era
Both the Philippines and Indonesia were part of the same Maritime Jade Road. Indonesia and the Philippines are both archipelagic countries with ethnic populations and national languages that have common Austronesian ancestry. The historical links between ancient Indonesia and the Philippines have commenced since around the 9th century. The Laguna Copperplate Inscription dated from 900 CE mentioned the Javanese Medang Kingdom and the Srivijaya Empire. The writing system used is the Kawi Script, while the language is a variety of Old Malay, and contains numerous loanwords from Sanskrit and a few non-Malay vocabulary elements whose origin is between Old Tagalog and Old Javanese. The 14th century Nagarakretagama manuscript written during the height of Majapahit empire, mentioned several states that is now Philippines; Kalka, Selurong (Manila), and Solot (Sulu), suggested that Majapahit empire influences had reached the Philippine archipelago.

European occupation
In the 16th century the two realms were divided under European colonial powers; Philippines archipelago was held under Spanish Empire while on the south the Moluccas spice islands (now Eastern parts of Indonesia) was under Portuguese possession, later wrestled by Dutch Empire. European colonials identify both archipelagic realms as East Indies, Spanish East Indies and Dutch East Indies. From 1925 to 1926, Indonesian national hero and former PKI member Tan Malaka lived in Manila. There he became a correspondent of the nationalist newspaper El Debate, edited by Francisco Varona. Publication of Malaka's works, such as a second edition of Naar de Republiek Indonesia (December 1925) and Semangat Moeda (Young Spirit; 1926) might have been supported by Varona. He wrote his admiration for José Rizal struggle. There Malaka also met Mariano de los Santos, José Abad Santos, and Crisanto Evangelista.

Modern-day
Since Indonesia's proclamation of independence on August 17, 1945, and the Philippines independence on July 4, 1946, the old cordial relationship between Indonesians and the Filipinos are reestablished. On November 24, 1949, the two countries established diplomatic relations. Since 1949, the Indonesian Government has opened its representative office (Consular Office) in Manila but it was not until the early 1950s that a diplomatic office (embassy) was established headed by an Ambassador. In 1967, both countries together with Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia founded ASEAN to ensure the peace and stability in the region.

In 2012, Indonesian television producers spawned their national franchise of the Philippine game-television show Eat Bulaga!, known as Eat Bulaga! Indonesia. The first Indonesian version adopted many activities and game segments from their original Philippine counterpart, before switching TV stations and adding their own twists.

However, with the case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina death-row inmate in Indonesia convicted of drug trafficking, relations between the two nations may take a minor strain. Veloso has however requested her family and the Philippine government not to damage the Indonesia–Philippines relations. In the end, Veloso's execution was further delayed on the day she was scheduled to be executed.

In 2016, in an effort to improve the country's maritime capabilities, the Philippine Navy purchased its newest warship, the BRP Tarlac, from Indonesia. It is based on the Makassar-class ships used by the Indonesian Navy. The ship was built by PT PAL Indonesia, in Surabaya, East Java where it is to be exported from. This would enable the Philippines to rely less on foreign allies for military maritime transport.

In June 2016, economic relations between Indonesia and the Philippines took a minor strain, when the Indonesian officials suspended coal exports to the Philippines. This decision was made after 7 Indonesian sailors carrying boats of coal en route to the Philippines were kidnapped by Filipino militants in the Sulu Sea. It is unknown of whether the militants were part of the Abu Sayyaf. Indonesian minister for foreign affairs Retno Marsudi stated that the moratorium would last until the Philippine government could provide confident security to Indonesian nationals. Indonesia currently is the Philippines' biggest supplier of coal, approximately 70%.

In January 2017, the Philippines granted residence permits to persons of Indonesian descent (PIDs) and stateless people with Indonesian ancestry living in southern Philippines.

Linguistic diversity
Both countries have a massive number of languages, for example, Indonesia has about 700 languages, while the Philippines has over 180 languages spoken in the country.

Ethnic groups
Both countries have a massive number of ethnic groups, the Philippines has about 182 ethnic groups, while Indonesia has about 1,300, most of whom speak Austronesian languages.

Land
Both countries are an archipelago and have a massive number of islands. Indonesia has 17,000 islands, about 6,000 of which are inhabited. the biggest islands are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and the Indonesian part of New Guinea. The Philippines however has 7,641 islands. Many people remember it having 7,107, but in 2016 the National Mapping and Resource Information recently discovered 500 new islands.

Season
Both countries are a Tropical archipelagos. There are only 2 seasons, which are Rainy seasons and Dry seasons.

Colonization & Invasions
Both countries were colonized by European powers.


 * 🇵🇭 Spanish East Indies – Spanish colony from 1565 to 1898
 * Dutch East Indies – Dutch colony from 1602 to 1949 (included Netherlands New Guinea until 1962)

Both countries were invaded by Japan in 1941-1942 and occupied until 1945.


 * Philippines campaign
 * Dutch East Indies campaign

Language
The languages Filipino and Indonesian have some similarities in words.

Dictatorships and revolutions
Both countries were ruled by Dictators following decolonization, which ruled for decades until they were overthrown in popular revolutions which paved the way for democracy.

Philippines

 * Dictatorial Government (1898) – rule by Emilio Aguinaldo that also announced the Philippine Declaration of Independence.
 * 🇵🇭 New Society Regime (1972–1986) – rule by Ferdinand Marcos from the announcement of the Proclamation No. 1081 until his removal from power following the People Power Revolution.

Indonesia

 * 🇮🇩 Guided Democracy Regime (1959–1966) – rule by Sukarno from the announcement of his 1959 Decree until his fall from power during the Transition to the New Order.
 * 🇮🇩 New Order Regime (1966–1998) – rule by Suharto from his Rise to Power until his Resignation from office following violent protests.

Both the Marcos and Suharto regimes were known for their extreme corruption, with the Marcos family embezzling from US$5 billion to $13 billion, and the Suharto family embezzling from US$15 billion to $35 billion.

Women Leaders
Both countries elected women to become presidents.


 * 🇵🇭 Corazon Aquino (1986–1992) – replaced Ferdinand Marcos after the People Power Revolution. She is the mother of former president Benigno Aquino III.
 * 🇵🇭 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001–2010) – replaced Joseph Estrada after his Ouster and Resignation. She is the daughter of former president Diosdado Macapagal.
 * 🇮🇩 Megawati Sukarnoputri (2001–2004) – replaced Abdurrahman Wahid after his Impeachment. She is the daughter of former president Sukarno.

Other
Both countries are known to have high amounts of workers emigrating to territories such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.

Trade
According to the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, that figure has gone from $1.12 billion in 2003 to $2.9 billion in 2009 and $3.89 billion in 2010. Indonesia is currently the Philippines' biggest supplier of coal, exporting about 70% of the Philippines' coal imports. In June 2016, Indonesian coal exports to the Philippines was put under a moratorium due to the growing concern of piracy in the Sulu Sea. That being said, the total trade between the two countries is in excess of $5.2 billion in 2016 with the balance of trade significantly favoring Indonesia, whose exports to Philippines compose over 85% of said figure. The first Indonesian warship to be exported was also delivered to the Philippines in May 2016. During 2020, Indonesia had a large net trade with Philippines in the exports of Transportation ($1.94B), Mineral Products ($1.46B), and Foodstuffs ($803M). Philippines also had a large net trade with Indonesia during 2020 in the exports of Machines ($211M), Chemical Products ($77.6M), and Metals ($72.3M).

Transportation
The two countries are also actively supporting the Master Plan of ASEAN Connectivity, which will enhance greater mobility within the region. The Philippines in particular is eager to develop the ASEAN Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) Network and Short Sea Shipping. In April 2017, the new shipping route connecting Davao in the Philippines with Bitung in Indonesia was inaugurated. This shipping route is within the BIMP-EAGA agreement and expected to boost Indonesia-Philippines trade relations.

In an effort to improve and modernise their railway service, the Philippine National Railways has bought diesel multiple unit train sets from PT INKA Indonesia, and deployed in December 2019.

Cooperation against border terrorism and separatism
Indonesia and the Philippines are working hand-in-hand to explore ways of cooperation to combat terrorism and other forms of transnational crimes threatening their borders and more broadly within Southeast Asia.

The Indonesian-Philippines naval border areas in Sulawesi Sea near Sulu archipelago and Mindanao waters are known as the piracy hotspots as well as terrorist's corridor. The Islamist militant operating in Poso, Central Sulawesi, has established relations with their Islamist terrorist counterparts in Sulu and Mindanao areas in Southern Philippines. Arms supply for Poso Islamist guerillas are suspected has been supplied by arm dealer operating in the Philippines blackmarket. On March 26, 2016, 10 Indonesian sailors were held hostage by Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf operating in Sulu archipelago in southern Philippines. The Indonesian vessels were freighting coal from South Borneo heading for Batangas port was hijacked near Sulu waters. The Philippines and Indonesian authority has been working together to crack down this hostage crisis. On May 2, 2016, 10 of Indonesian sailor hostages were released by their captors. In July 2024 The Indonesian and Philippine navies launched a joint patrol in their maritime border of Sulawesi and Mindanao waters to strengthen their capabilities against piracy and terrorism.

Boundary agreement
Indonesia and Philippines share maritime borders mainly on Sulawesi Sea. In the past both countries were involved in territorial disputes over Miangas island (Island of Palmas Case). It was fought between the Netherlands and the United States and won by Netherlands East Indies in 1932. Today there is no territorial disputes between Indonesia and Philippines.

On May 23, 2014, the Philippines and Indonesia signed a historic agreement that drew a maritime boundary between the two countries' overlapping exclusive economic zones. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and his Indonesian counterpart, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, inked the deal in Manila with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as witnesses. The EEZ is an area 200 nautical miles from a coastal state's baselines, or edges, within which the state has the sovereign rights to explore and exploit, and conserve and manage natural resources, among others. “The conclusion of the negotiations attests to the friendship, patience, goodwill, and commitment of the governments of the Philippines and Indonesia to peacefully address maritime issues,” said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan Garcia, who led the Philippine team in negotiations.

Disaster relief
Both Indonesia and Philippines archipelago are prone to natural disasters, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and storms (typhoons, tornadoes, etc.). Both countries often help each other in times of need. The Indonesian government on Monday December 10, 2012, came to the aid of thousands of typhoon “Pablo” (Bopha) victims in the Visayas and Mindanao, donating $1 million and four tons of relief items through the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Besides the financial aid, the Indonesian government also gave 1,000 military blankets, 3,000 packs of ready-to-eat meals and 50 boxes of instant noodles.

In November 2013, Indonesian Government sent humanitarian aid of goods and logistics worth to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in Central Philippines as part of ASEAN solidarity. Indonesian Red Cross also sent 688,862 tonnes emergency supplies. Three Indonesian Air Force Hercules aircraft deployed with supplies to affected areas. Logistical aid including aircraft, food, generators and medicine. The Indonesian Red Cross deployed KM Emir cargo ship loaded with emergency supplies and also 30 Indonesian Red Cross volunteers.