Indonesia's Defense Strategy Against Chinese Active Measures: A Psychological and Disinformation Perspective

Muhammad Raya Qulby; Pujo Widodo; Ahmad G. Dohamid

doi:10.63922/ijevss.v5i02.3579

Muhammad Raya Qulby Indonesia Defense University, Indonesia
Pujo Widodo Indonesia Defense University, Indonesia
Ahmad G. Dohamid Indonesia Defense University, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i02.3579

Keywords: Active Measures, Defense Strategy, Disinformation, Psychological Operations, Indonesia-China Relations, Cognitive Security, Strategic Communication.

Abstract

As geopolitical competition intensifies in the Indo-Pacific, Indonesia faces increasingly sophisticated "Active Measures" employed by the People's Republic of China to shape public perception, influence policy decisions, and undermine national cohesion. This study presents a comprehensive defense strategy framework for Indonesia to counter Chinese informational and psychological operations for the period of 2025-2026. By leveraging strategic communication theory, cognitive psychology principles, and comparative analysis of regional counter-influence practices, we develop an integrated psychological-defense matrix tailored to Indonesia's sociopolitical context. The analysis indicates that effective defense requires coordinated efforts across Narrative Resilience Building (NRB-101), Institutional Credibility Fortification (ICF-205), and Public Cognitive Empowerment (PCE-308). The findings suggest that Indonesian defense institutions, particularly in coordinating whole-of-government responses to maritime sovereignty narratives and economic partnership discourse, must prioritize psychological preparedness alongside conventional deterrence. This paper proposes a proactive defense strategy centered on Strategic Communication Integration and Multi-Layered Cognitive Resilience to mitigate informational threats while preserving democratic values.

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