Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto has canceled a planned trip to China next week as violent unrest in Jakarta spread to several other Indonesian cities, forcing the government to focus on restoring domestic stability.

Prabowo had been invited alongside more than two dozen world leaders to attend defense-related events in China, including the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said the president decided to stay home to oversee efforts to end the turmoil that has rocked the country for five consecutive days. “With humility and with apologies to the Chinese government, President Prabowo Subianto has conveyed that he cannot attend their invitation,” Prasetyo said on Saturday.

He added that Prabowo intends to continue directly monitoring the security situation and lead efforts to find a resolution. “Given the domestic dynamics, the president wants to personally oversee developments and seek the best solution,” Prasetyo said.

On the same day, Prabowo summoned Armed Forces Commander General Agus Subiyanto and National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo to evaluate recent events and prevent further escalation across provinces.

Rioting has now spread beyond Jakarta to cities including Cirebon, Makassar, Solo, Malang, Kediri, and Brebes, where protesters have attacked police stations and set fire to public facilities.

The unrest was initially triggered by public outrage over lawmakers’ lavish allowances but escalated sharply after 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was killed when struck by a police armored vehicle during a protest on Thursday. 

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