Politik Indonesia: Indonesian Political Science Review, 6 (3), December 2021, pp. 289-305 ISSN 2477-8060 (print), ISSN 2503-4456 (online) DOI: 10.15294/ipsr.v6i3.31548 © 2021 Politik Indonesia: Indonesian Political Science Review Hedging Against Giants: Indonesia's Strategy towards India and China in the Indian Ocean Fahlesa Munabari, Universitas Budi Luhur, Indonesia* Diandri Filani Bulani, Universitas Budi Luhur, Indonesia Rizky Ihsan, Universitas Budi Luhur, Indonesia Nadia Utami Larasati, Universitas Budi Luhur, Indonesia Abstract China’s growing military and economic influence in the Indian Ocean has posed security challenges to India as a regional power in the region. As the two countries are competing over hegemony in the ocean, tensions grow and unavoidably create security uncertainties between countries in the region. Located strategically along major sea lanes connecting East Asia and South Asia, Indonesia has a strong interest in keeping the Indian Ocean safe and secure. However, the enduring India-China rivalry in the Indian Ocean has posed a threat not only to the Indonesia’s interest, but also the regional peace and security. This article analyzes how Indonesia as a middle power responds to these security uncertainties through hedging. This strategy is primarily aimed at mitigating risks Indonesia faces amid escalating tensions in the Indian Ocean. It is also geared towards avoiding conflict with target states —India and China. The article opens with an overview of the dynamics of India-China rivalry in the Indian Ocean. It then examines Indonesia’s hedging strategy towards India and China. It argues that Indonesia prefers to strengthen bilateral relations with India and China through increased cooperation in the maritime sector as part of this strategy. It demonstrates that while the Indonesia- India’s increased maritime cooperation is forged in the area of defense and security, Indonesia enhances engagement with China in the area of economic and infrastructure development.. Keywords: Hedging; Indonesia; The Indian Ocean; India-China Rivalry; Middle Power INTRODUCTION As a country with the largest archipelago in the world located at the intersection of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Indonesia has an important role in the maritime sector to open up opportunities for cooperation with other countries in the region (Mubah 2019). Its position in the Indo-Pacific region is very strategic because Indonesia is home to Sea Line of Communications (SLOCs), which is the Indo-Pacific sea communication lines in which there are abundant valuable energy resources such as oil, gas, and coal (Agastia and Perwita 2016). Indonesia currently has ambitions to become a Global Maritime Fulcrum. The Global Maritime Fulcrum is Indonesia’s strategic vision aimed at making the country an archipelagic state with strong maritime power, maximizing the potential of its maritime resources. Similarly, India and China are *Correspondence: Jl. Ciledug Raya, RT.10/RW.2, Petukangan Utara, Kec. Pesanggrahan, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12260 Indonesia. Email: fahlesa.munabari@budiluhur.ac.id. "#$#%&#' ()*)+, -. /0/12 ($$#9,#' 34&#56#7 18. /0/12 V)6F%+@#' :#$#56#7 18. /0/1