China urges Indonesia to protect Chinese nationals, understands decision to cancel president's trip
World
President Prabowo had been due to attend parade in Beijing on September 3
BEIJING (Reuters) - China hopes Indonesia can take effective measures to protect Chinese nationals in the Southeast Asian country, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday when asked about recent protests in Indonesia.
China understands and respects the Indonesian government's decision to cancel a trip by President Prabowo Subianto to Beijing, Guo also told a regular press conference. Prabowo had been due to attend a "Victory Day" parade in Beijing on September 3.
Prabowo's representative will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and the military parade, Guo said.
Earlier, Indonesian protesters set ablaze regional parliament buildings in three provinces during continuing demonstrations, a day after three people were killed in violence that has presented a major test for President Prabowo Subianto.
Parliamentary buildings in West Nusa Tenggara, Pekalongan city in Central Java and Cirebon city in West Java were set on fire by protesters, local media reported.
Detik.com said the protesters looted parliament's office equipments in Cirebon while police shot tear gas to disperse them in Pekalongan and West Nusa Tenggara.
Protests began in Indonesia's capital Jakarta last week over lawmakers' pay, escalating on Friday after a police vehicle hit and killed the driver of a ride-hailing motorbike.
