Editorial: Migration, Mobility and Diaspora in Asia 

 

Greetings from the Journal of ASEAN Studies. In this issue, JAS offers a broader range 

of discussion on the migration and mobility. Some of the articles published in this issue 

were previously presented at the 4th International Conference on Business, International 

Relations, and Diplomacy at Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta. However, JAS also 

includes several other articles that update our intellectual underpinnings on both 

Indonesian role in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Australian 

foreign policy. 

  

The first article in this issue highlights the migration flow between Taiwan and 

Southeast Asia. Ching-lung Tsay, in his article entitled Migration between Southeast Asia 

and Taiwan: Trends, Characteristics, and Implications, identifies that the trend of Taiwanese 

migration to Southeast Asia is more homogenous in comparison to the Southeast Asian 

migration to Taiwan. Taiwan migration to Southeast Asia is actively triggered by the 

flow of investment to the region while the inflow migration to Taiwan from Southeast 

Asia involves the movement of contract workers, immigrant spouses, professionals and 

the skilled, as well as students. Tsay also suggests that this trend could be seen as a 

potential for both countries to build a better migration management. 

  

Indonesian Diaspora in this issue also receives considerable attention from Salut 

Muhidin and Ariane Utomo through their article entitled The Global of Indonesian 

Diaspora: How Many are There and Where are They? This article attempts to provide an 

analysis of the patterns and demographic feature of Indonesian diaspora as a part of the 

largest global community. This article also explores the potential that Indonesian 

diaspora can contribute to Indonesian development. 

  

On the protection of Indonesian women migrant workers, Sylvia Yazid and Elisabeth 

Dewi contend that women play a significant role. Their involvement in influencing the 

policy making is evident in the Indonesian context. Yazid and Dewi intensely 

interviewed six prominent woman figures who, through their efforts, promote the 

protection of women migrant workers. Furthermore, this article gives a broad insight as 

the discussion covers the role that a diverse group of professionals plays in empowering 

women as a migrant worker. 

  

Another two titles in this volume deal with Indonesia and the Organization of the 

Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); and the impact of the growing PRC’s role in 

Southeast Asia to the Australian foreign policy. Badaruddin in his article discusses the 

reactivation of Indonesia as a member of OPEC and its trajectory. In the latter title, Lidya 

Sinaga highlights how the Australian authority reacts to the increasingly assertive 

Chinese foreign policy in Southeast Asia. 

  



By the publication of this issue, JAS is also glad to announce that to improve 

performance as a growing international scholarly journal on Southeast Asian affairs, we 

are now in full operation of Open Journal System. JAS would like to express its gratitude 

to Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology and Higher Education from whom 

the JAS receives a grant to improve our professionalism and commitment to be an 

internationally reputable journal. 

 

In addition, we would like to express our deepest condolences on the loss of Bantarto 

Bandoro, our advisory board member, in the end of last year. He has shown his 

dedication and instrumental contributions in the making of JAS since the early 

development of this journal. We also would like to welcome Tamas Novak of Budapest 

Business School Hungary as our newest international advisory board member. This 

shows our commitment to continuously broaden our networks of readership and to 

engage intellectuals whose area of interest is Southeast Asia from all around the world 

including countries in the Central and Eastern Europe.  

 
 
Jakarta, 30 January 2016 
 
 
Prof. Tirta N. Mursitama, Ph.D 
Editor-in-chief