- 7 December 1975 – Indonesian troops invade modern-day East Timor, beginning a 24-year occupation
- 13 December 1937 – The Indonesian state news agency Antara is established
- 19 December 1948 – The Dutch launch Operation Kraai and capture the national capital at Yogyakarta
- 26 December 2004 – A large earthquake strikes north of Aceh; the resulting tsunami (pictured) kills at least 131,028 in Indonesia alone
- 27 December 1949 – The Dutch formally recognise Indonesian sovereignty after several months of negotiations, ending the revolution