The rise of Xi Jinping has brought together the idea of the ‘China Dream’ as a great revival of China. Since the dream referred to the nationalism spirit of a ‘century of humiliation,’ it has made national security issues as the core of China’s diplomacy. While the national security-related foreign policy has enhanced the military's role in China’s foreign policy-making, it brings consequences for China’s tougher stance in protecting China’s national security. However, Xi Jinping’s notion of using military diplomacy has started uneasy relationships between China and some ASEAN countries resulting in ‘ongoing negotiation without progress’ for the South China Sea dispute. The research examines the impacts of the military’s growing role in China’s foreign policy under Xi Jinping to its military diplomacy in ASEAN. The results show that Xi Jinping’s leadership and vision of the China Dream, which uses military diplomacy as a key tool for advancing its whole diplomatic goals, has been seen as a sign of growing assertiveness.

This essay examines the impact of the assertiveness of China’s Foreign Policy in the South China Sea under Xi Jinping on United States and Australian foreign policy. The essay focuses on the  Xi Jinping period from 2013 because Xi has a different approach in foreign policy making from that of his predecessors. His determination to defend and advance maritime claims and interests as well as the external developments, have made his foreign policy  more assertive. This essay will argue that China’s assertive foreign policy in South China Sea under Xi Jinping has paved the way for a greater role for the US in Southeast Asia, and deepened the rivalry between China and the US. This rising tension in turn has put Australia in a challenging situation, torn between its security alliance with the United States, and its economic interests in  China. However, Australia does not have to choose one, but Australia can play a constructive role in the development of some compromise between the two.

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As the largest archipelagic state and the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, Indonesia’s commitment to climate change policy is critical. In 2009, Indonesia under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono showed its commitment by setting environmental targets, which included a commitment to reduce deforestation by decreasing the number of forest fires by 20 percent each year. The commitment, however, could not be fully realised. Unsurprisingly, in 2015 for the umpteenth time, a thick haze of smog caused by the forest fires blanketed Indonesia and its neighbours, Malaysia and Singapore. The pollution unavoidably raises uncertainty of Indonesia’s role in advancing the climate change regime. Since 85 percent of emissions in Indonesia come from deforestation, Indonesia’s failure to tackle this problem is a serious issue in relation to its international role. Indonesia’s international commitment and motivation then come into questions, particularly considering the country’s domestic conduct. While not dismissing the positive impacts of its active commitment, this paper evaluates climate change policy in Indonesia during the Yudhoyono administration by applying the context of multi-level governance, namely the impact of international, local government, and non-governmental actors in environmental policy. None should be in any doubt on the point that Yudhoyono has dealt with climate change issues more seriously than any previous president. However, since Indonesia falls behind on its national commitment, this paper argues that Indonesia’s role in establishing climate change regime is more driven by its international stature.AbstrakSebagai negara kepulauan terbesar dan penghasil emisi gas rumah kaca terbesar ketiga di dunia, komitmen Indonesia terhadap kebijakan perubahan iklim sangat penting. Pada tahun 2009, Indonesia di bawah Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono menunjukkan komitmennya dengan menetapkan target untuk mengurangi deforestasi dengan mengurangi jumlah kebakaran hutan sebesar 20 persen setiap tahun. Namun, target ini tidak sepenuhnya dapat diwujudkan. Pada tahun 2015 untuk yang kesekian kalinya, kabut asap tebal yang disebabkan oleh kebakaran hutan menyelimuti Indonesia dan tetangganya, Malaysia dan Singapura. Kasus ini menimbulkan ketidakpastian atas peran Indonesia dalam memajukan rezim perubahan iklim. Mengingat 85 persen emisi di Indonesia berasal dari deforestasi, kegagalan Indonesia untuk mengatasi masalah ini adalah persoalan serius terkait peran internasionalnya, apalagi dengan melihat implementasi pada tataran domestiknya. Meskipun tidak menampik dampak positif dari komitmen aktifnya, tulisan ini mengevaluasi kebijakan perubahan iklim di Indonesia selama masa kepresidenan Yudhoyono dengan menerapkan konteks tata kelola multi-level, yaitu dampak aktor internasional, pemerintah daerah, dan non-pemerintah dalam kebijakan lingkungan. Seharusnya tidak ada yang meragukan bahwa Yudhoyono telah menangani masalah perubahan iklim dengan lebih serius daripada presiden sebelumnya. Namun, melihat minimnya komitmen dan implementasi di tingkat nasional, peran Indonesia dalam membangun rezim perubahan iklim lebih tampak sebagai upaya membangun citra internasional.