JAKARTA (Kyodo) — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto departed for China on Tuesday, the presidential office said, despite an earlier announcement that he had canceled the trip over growing unrest in the Southeast Asian country.
The president is attending Wednesday’s events in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II and will return home the same day, according to the office.
Separately, Indonesia and Japan were arranging for Prabowo to make his first visit to Japan as president in early September, but a Japanese government source said Monday that the plan had been canceled so he could focus on dealing with the protests.
Protests have spread in the capital Jakarta and across Indonesia over allowances provided to lawmakers, reflecting growing public frustration with economic conditions.
The president’s trip to China appears to reflect the importance he attaches to bilateral relations between Jakarta and Beijing. Prabowo, who was sworn in as president last October, visited China the following month.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has invited him to visit Japan this year.
Indonesia leader leaves for China after canceling trip over protests
