US Respect ASEAN to Handle South China Sea Disputes

ILLUSTRATION PHOTO/US Navy ship in the South China Sea/DOK US Navy

JAKARTA - The United States Ambassador to ASEAN Kevin Kim stated that the US understands and respects ASEAN's function in handling disputes in the South China Sea.

"The government understands and respects how ASEAN functions as an institution," Kim said, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, August 1.

Regarding the dispute in the South China Sea, the US is aware that discussions are taking place between a number of ASEAN member countries and China.

ASEAN member countries will form a consensus based on their respective positions among the 11 countries as a group, and they will negotiate with China as a single unit, which means a consensus must be reached.

"We respect the process that is driven by consensus. Basically, it is the nations and peoples of Southeast Asia who must manage these problems or handle these issues," said Kim.

According to him, geography is a political fact that cannot be changed. From the US perspective, similar sentiments are also voiced by other countries in the region such as Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, namely that each agreement must not undermine US interests or the interests of other third parties who also have interests in the South China Sea.

Kim added that basically the maritime area is a vital sea route where the global economy depends on the area.

He said as stated by US Secretary of State Rubio, the US will continue to uphold its obligations under the agreement with the Philippines and the South China Sea.

The US, said Kim, will continue to sail in international waters as they have long done. Because at its core, freedom of navigation is a basic right that every country has.

"We see what happens when one country tries to deny that right to another country. And that is something we will continue to uphold," he said.

Kim also reiterated that the US also upholds the principles based on the 1982 UNCLOS ruling, as well as the 10th anniversary of the ruling of the arbitration court regarding the South China Sea.