Xi Sends Condolences to Indonesia Over Deadly Flores Quake
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on August 17, following a powerful earthquake that struck Indonesia’s Flores Island region, killing at least 68 people and displacing thousands. The gesture underscores the deepening diplomatic ties between Beijing and Jakarta as the two nations navigate a complex regional landscape.
The Earthquake
The magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck on August 15 at a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located approximately 68 kilometers north-northwest of Ende, off the northern coast of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, according to BBC News. The quake triggered a tsunami warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, and Southeast Sulawesi provinces, which was lifted approximately three hours later after a tsunami with a maximum height of 1.61 meters was recorded.
The disaster has taken a heavy toll. According to DW, the death toll rose to at least 68 by Monday, with more than 100 additional injuries reported. Nearly 1,600 aftershocks have followed the main quake, including a magnitude 5.7 aftershock on August 17 that caused two additional deaths in Ngada regency. Approximately 12,800 people remain displaced and unable to return to their homes, with more than 2,400 houses damaged.
China’s Response
In his message to President Prabowo, Xi expressed condolences on behalf of the Chinese government and people, stating: “I was shocked to learn of the strong earthquake in your country, which caused serious casualties and property losses. On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, I express my condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured. I believe that under the leadership of the Indonesian government, the Indonesian people will surely overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.”
The message was published by Xinhua News and also carried by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At a regular press conference on the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed the earthquake, saying: “China is closely following the earthquake disaster in Indonesia. We express our deepest condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured. China is willing to provide active assistance according to Indonesia’s needs.” Lin also confirmed that a few Chinese citizens were injured in the earthquake, and that the Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar had activated its consular protection emergency mechanism to provide assistance.
Independence Day Overshadowed
The earthquake struck just two days before Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day, casting a shadow over national celebrations. During the ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on August 17, President Prabowo called for a moment of silence to remember disaster victims, as Jakarta Daily reported. “Let us observe a moment of silence to remember the souls and services of the heroes of our nation’s independence who sacrificed their lives and bodies for the independence and honor of the Indonesian nation, as well as to pray for our brothers and sisters affected by natural disasters in Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara and other regions of Indonesia,” Prabowo said.
Deepening China-Indonesia Ties
The condolence message reflects the strong bilateral relationship that has developed between China and Indonesia in recent years. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1950 and have maintained a comprehensive strategic partnership, which was elevated during Prabowo’s state visit to China in November 2024 — his first foreign visit as president. During that visit, Xi and Prabowo agreed to build a China-Indonesia community with a shared future, as documented by the Chinese Embassy in India. Prabowo has described China as a “great country” and noted the “thousand-year history of friendly exchanges” between the two nations.
Prabowo made another working visit to China in September 2025, meeting Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic cooperation, as Jakarta Daily reported. The two countries have also cooperated on major infrastructure projects, including the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway.
Looking Ahead
This is Indonesia’s deadliest disaster since a 2022 earthquake that killed hundreds in West Java. The earthquake struck along the Flores Back-arc Thrust fault, which geologists had previously identified as having a potential maximum magnitude of 7.8-7.9. Indonesia sits on the “Ring of Fire,” a region of heightened seismic activity, and has experienced devastating earthquakes including the 2004 Indian Ocean quake that killed 170,000 in Indonesia alone.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue, China’s offer of assistance and its swift diplomatic response signal the importance Beijing places on its relationship with Jakarta. Whether China will provide concrete humanitarian aid remains to be seen, but the message of solidarity from Xi Jinping underscores the strategic significance both nations attach to their partnership in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.