Indonesia’s current Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto claimed victory in the country’s presidential election on Wednesday. At a press conference Thursday, Taiwan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jeff Liu (劉永健) said that the ministry will continue to follow the latest updates regarding Indonesia’s election.
Liu adds that Taiwan and Indonesia have established significant exchanges in trade, agriculture, and education and that Taiwan will continue to develop further relations in the future.
According to unofficial tallies conducted by Indonesian polling agencies, Subianto had 57% to 59% of votes. An official result is expected within 35 days of the election. This is Prabowo Subianto’s third time running for president. Prabowo Subianto is linked to several controversial events and was accused of human rights violations during his political career. He was a former Kopassus special forces commander and was linked to the 1998 riots in Indonesia, where many of the victims of violence were ethnic Chinese Indonesians. He received a dishonorable discharge in 1998 after claims of the Kopassus’ kidnapping and torturing of political opponents of the Soeharto regime. Subianto has many ties to current and former Indonesian leaders. He was married to the daughter of the former dictator Suharto, and his running mate is the eldest son of current Indonesian President Joko Widodo.