• Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto proceeds with a trip to China despite deadly protests at home.
• The protests were fueled by rising living costs and a recent incident involving police violence.
• Prabowo's visit aims to strengthen diplomatic ties and involved meeting with Xi Jinping in Beijing.
• The Indonesian government responded to protests by revoking lawmakers' perks and deploying military forces.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has embarked on a trip to China to attend a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, despite the backdrop of widespread protests in Indonesia that resulted in at least six fatalities. His attendance, announced by State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi, comes after he had initially canceled the trip due to the escalating unrest sparked by the death of a delivery driver during a police confrontation. The protests, significant enough to prompt government action, began over rising inequality and living costs, threatening the stability of his administration according to SCMP and Al Jazeera.

During the visit, which includes a significant military showcase in Beijing, Prabowo is set to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, reflecting Indonesia's intent to bolster defense cooperation and strategic ties with China. The invitation from Xi highlights the importance both nations place on their relationship, particularly amid growing tensions in the region. Prabowo's attendance at the parade, which features world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-un, is seen as an opportunity to enhance Indonesia's international standing, according to Channel News Asia and The Jakarta Post.

The protests, significant in scale, involved violent clashes, demanding accountability following the death of a motorcycle taxi driver. Reports from various rights groups highlight at least six confirmed deaths and many missing individuals amid ongoing unrest, effectively challenging Prabowo's leadership. As a response, the Indonesian government has taken measures such as cutting perks for lawmakers and deploying military forces to restore order, reflected in the statements from SCMP and SCMP.

Prabowo's trip illustrates a balancing act of advancing Indonesia's diplomatic agenda while addressing the mounting frustrations back home. As the situation stabilizes, Indonesian officials, including Prasetyo Hadi, have assured that public life is gradually returning to normal, with diminished protest activities reported in recent days after strong governmental responses. However, analysts caution that the underlying issues prompting demonstrations remain unresolved, potentially leading to further political unrest, as noted by SCMP.