Indonesian students increasingly choose China over U.S. as education ties deepen

More Indonesian students now choose China over the US, as ties deepen. About 20,000 Indonesians study in China as of January 2026, up from 13,000 in 2016.

Tsinghua University now reserves 50 spots yearly for Indonesian high schoolers, an offer no other country gets. Deputy Minister Stella Christie says students now say "Tsinghua" instead of "Harvard."

China stayed Indonesia's top trade partner for 13 years, with two-way trade at US$155 billion in 2025, says Ambassador Wang Lutong.