Restrictions On China's Imported Goods Still Goes Even Though They Are Deemed Excessive

Illustrated photo (Unsplash / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has imposed restrictions on imports from Chinese territory after the outbreak of the corona virus. The imported goods that are stopped by the government are live animals and this policy is taken to prevent the virus.

This policy then generated polemics from several parties, one of which was the entrepreneurs who were members of the Indonesia-China Socio-Cultural Economic Cooperation Institute. According to the head of this institution, Maj. Gen. TNI (Purn) Sudrajat, his party wants the policy of restricting imported goods to cancellation of flights from China to be reviewed again.

It is known that in addition to restricting imported goods in the form of live animals, the government has also canceled flights to and from China until an indefinite time.

As for the reason for reviewing this policy, so that restrictions do not interfere with the distribution of goods that have been running so far. In addition, this limitation is also considered useless if it is only based on reasons for preventing the corona virus. Given that the virus will die when imported goods arrive in Indonesia.

"We see whether there is a need for restrictions (restrictions) and even logistical cuts, especially for goods from China. We consider that there is not too much to do with the virus. Because it is goods, where the virus itself can only survive outside. 16 hours at most 24 hours, "Sudrajat told reporters at the Kemenkopolhukam Office, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Wednesday, February 5.

This former West Java Pilkada contestant hopes that instead of limiting imported goods from China, the government should be able to implement a more conducive policy. The reason is, if the restrictions are continuously implemented, what will happen is a decrease in business volume.

Not only businessmen as business people, the government of the bamboo curtain country through the Chinese Ambassador in Indonesia, Xiao Qian, assessed that excessive measures such as import restrictions and flight cancellations from and to their country are unnecessary even though there is the spread of the corona virus.

"We think that in this situation we have to be calm, there is no need to overreact (overreact) and have a negative impact on trade, investment and the movement of people," Xiao told reporters in Jakarta, Tuesday, February 4, adding that this excessive attitude was considered unnecessary. right, considering that there is no evidence that the corona virus can spread through imported goods.

So that in the future, the Indonesian government is asked to review the restriction policies that they have set. Given, it is not impossible that the effect of import restrictions and flight cancellations will actually make diplomatic relations between the two countries potentially negative.

"This action will harm trade relations between the two countries and will also have a negative impact on the relations between the two countries," he said.

It is important to do

President Joko Widodo then responded to the statement made by the Chinese Ambassador, Xiao Qian, who asked that the policy for restricting imported goods and canceling flights to and from the country be reviewed.

According to the former governor of DKI Jakarta, the closure of live animal import routes and flight cancellations is necessary, even in the national interest to prevent the spread of the corona virus.

"Yes, whatever, I say that our national interest is still number one," said President Jokowi to reporters in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 5.

Presidential spokesman for President Jokowi, Fadjroel Rachman then emphasized that the government was actually not overreacting to it even though it did these two things. According to him, steps to restrict imports and cancellation of flights were not only carried out by Indonesia but also in several other countries.

"Not (excessive). Due to the actions of the Indonesian government, other governments in the world are also doing it. Until then the WHO will repeal it, in the form of a prohibition related to the spread of the Corona virus," said Fadjroel.

Moreover, according to him, this restriction is not imposed on all imported products from China. But only live animal products. "We have to provide corrections, that the prohibition of certain types of commodities is only for life animals, or live animals. There is no mention for the others," he said.

Fadjroel also reminded the Chinese government that currently the two countries were still working together considering that there were seven Indonesian citizens who now resided in the city of Wuhan, China, even though 238 other people had been sent home.

For your information, since the widespread spread of the corona virus until now there has been no spread of the corona virus in Indonesia. To prevent the entry of the virus, Indonesia has imposed an entry ban for those who hold national passports or those who have recently traveled in mainland China.

In addition, the Indonesian government has stopped the visa-free and visa-on-arrival policies for Chinese citizens. However, it is not yet known how long this policy will run.