ASIATODAY.ID, WASHINGTON – The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto spoke about the South China Sea (SCS) which was also discussed with the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden.
In this context, Prabowo prioritizes cooperation with all parties, but still maintains state sovereignty.
“We discussed the South China Sea, I said we want cooperation with all parties. We respect all powers, but we will also maintain our sovereignty,” said Prabowo in a press statement in Washington DC, Thursday, November 14 2024.
Prabowo emphasized that he is always looking for opportunities to collaborate with anyone. He believes collaboration will be better than confrontation.
“But we choose, I choose to always look for opportunities for cooperation. I believe collaboration, cooperation, is always better than confrontation or conflict,” he stressed.
According to Prabowo, cooperation must be sought by various parties. Therefore, it is necessary to have an attitude of mutual trust and build good relationships with all parties.
“Of course this must be done, it won’t come alone. There must be an effort to build mutual trust, mutual respect. So we choose to maintain good relations with all parties,” he said.
Previously, the joint Indonesia-China statement after Prabowo’s meeting with Xi Jinping sparked controversy.
Indonesia and China issued a joint statement containing 14 points, with point 9 being the highlight regarding the South China Sea boundary. This joint statement from Indonesia and China was uploaded on the official Chinese government website.
In point 9, it is stated that both parties agreed to create maritime cooperation. Indonesia-China reached important mutual understandings on joint development in areas of overlapping claims and agreed to establish a Joint Intergovernmental Steering Committee to explore and advance relevant cooperation.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also provided further explanation. MOFA said Indonesia’s maritime cooperation with China was a form of peace in the region. MOFA said that this collaboration was not interpreted as recognition of the ‘9 dash lines’.
“This collaboration cannot be interpreted as an acknowledgment of the claims of ‘9-Dash-Lines’,” wrote MOFA.
MOFA said that in this statement Indonesia reiterated its position that this claim does not have international law as intended in UNOCLOS 1982. For this reason, said MOFA, this cooperation has no impact on Indonesia’s sovereignty or jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea.
“Indonesia reiterates its position all along that this claim has no basis in international law and is not in accordance with UNCLOS 1982,” wrote MOFA.
“Thus, according to MOFA, this collaboration has no impact on Indonesia’s sovereignty, sovereign rights or jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea,” said MOFA. (AT Network)
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