# Indonesia’s US airspace deal risks China ties Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/asia-specific-7569375/indonesia-s-us-airspace-deal-risks-china-ties Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/asia-specific-7569375/indonesia-s-us-airspace-deal-risks-china-ties.md Podcast: [Asia Specific](https://stenobird.com/podcast/asia-specific-7569375) Published: 2026-04-21T23:01:00+00:00 Episode link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nfmp5j Audio file: http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nfmny1.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/asia-specific-7569375/episodes/indonesia-s-us-airspace-deal-risks-china-ties Duration seconds: 1138 ## Resource What would a deal with the US military mean for Indonesia’s ties to China? The proposal being considered by Indonesia would allow US military aircraft easier access to its airspace. But it has ignited debate in a country that’s long had a non-aligned foreign policy stance. We discuss this possible shift in strategy, the US military presence in the region and how a potential deal is being viewed by China. What do Indonesians think and what could be the fallout for President Prabowo Subianto? Host Mariko Oi is joined by Asia Specific’s Bill Birtles, plus Jakarta-based freelance journalist Randy Mulyanto. Asia Pacific, unpacked by those who know it best. Bringing you essential insights and conversations on the stories shaping the region - an economic powerhouse, geo-political flashpoint and the birthplace of global cultural trends. Hear Asian perspectives on international issues and in-depth analysis on news from a region that’s home to nearly 2.5 billion people. Whether it is the latest on trade between the US and China, the rise and fall of political dynasties in Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines, or South Korea’s K-pop inspired soft power strategy, we find out what key players are thinking and dive into the stories that matter. Hosted in Singapore by Mariko Oi, alongside BBC experts in Beijing, Bangkok, and beyond – listen to new episodes twice a week. Episodes of Asia Specific are also available on YouTube, here: https://bit.ly/4iJyeVt Get in touch: asiaspecific@bbc.co.uk ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/asia-specific-7569375/episodes/indonesia-s-us-airspace-deal-risks-china-ties/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/asia-specific-7569375/indonesia-s-us-airspace-deal-risks-china-ties.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.