Credibility And Relevance Of ASEAN Tested, South China Sea Disputes Must Be Talkd

President Jokowi held a meeting with ASEAN leaders and AIPA representatives at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel, Cambodia, Thursday (10/11/2022). (BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev)

JAKARTA - The government and parliament must work together to strengthen ASEAN's unity and centrality in order to overcome the geopolitical dynamics of the region and increasingly worrying world conditions. If ASEAN member countries are unable to present solutions, ASEAN's credibility and relevance will continue to be questioned.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) firmly conveyed this at a meeting of ASEAN leaders with representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliament Assembly (AIPA) at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel, Cambodia, Thursday (10/11).

ASEAN is required to navigate the rivalry in great strength that is increasingly sharpening.

"We don't want to see war in the region, war will keep our ideals of the Indo-Pacific as the epicenter of growth," President Jokowi said in a press release.

It is undeniable that the geopolitical dynamics of the region, especially in the South China Sea, often heats up. China claims ownership of the territory on the basis of nine broken lines (nine dash lines) that span 2,000 km from mainland China through Taiwan to a number of ASEAN countries, such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia.

In fact, according to Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, international law does not recognize that.

The United States as the world police is furious and thinks China is too much. Not infrequently the two of them show off to each other's strengths. In fact, allied US countries such as Britain to Germany, last year, have placed their warships in the Asia Pacific, including in the South China Sea.

North Korea as China's eternal ally often provoked it with its nuclear power demonstrations.

Retno had said that he had made several marine territorial protests in the north of Natuna Island, either directly or in official forums. Convention on the Law of the United Nations Sea (UNCLOS) or the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has designated Natuna waters as Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). On that basis, the waters in the Natuna Island area were named the North Natuna Sea in 2017.

Retno asked, Every country respects the international law listed in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which was established in 1982.

According to President Jokowi, there is no compromise in defending Indonesia's sovereignty. However, handling efforts must prioritize peaceful diplomatic efforts.

Likewise the Philippines. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr firmly will not allow China to trampled on the country's maritime rights.

"We have a very important decision that benefits us and we use it to continue to assert our territorial rights. This is not a claim. This has become our territorial right," Marcos said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will also continue to pursue diplomacy. China must comply with applicable legal provisions. The South China Sea must remain a free area for trade. Freedom of navigation needs to be respected by all parties there.

"We are also asking for this Code of Conduct to be accelerated so that there are no related issues," he said as quoted by Antara, last August.

Previously, the US State Department's Law Counselor for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Robert Harris, advised Indonesia to explore intensively the settlement of peace related to the South China Sea dispute through ASEAN.

According to Robert, since 2019, China has claimed unilaterally control of the maritime zone of the South China Sea and 11 countries including the US have rejected it.

This is because claims over the vast South China Sea region as well as what China calls internal waters' and outermost islands', are not in accordance with international law as stated in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The decision of the international arbitration assembly on July 12, 2016, has also decided that the PRC must stop unlawful activities and force it in the South China Sea. "Therefore, his party encourages countries that have refused and are in direct contact with these maritime zones such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines to explore their settlement in ASEAN-assisted forums," he said.

As reported by Ani News, China and ASEAN actually agreed on the Declaration of Conduct (DoC) in the South China Sea in 2002. However, after two decades have passed, there has been no agreement regarding the Code of Conduct (CoC) which is a guideline for safeguarding the rights and interests of all parties in the South China Sea.

In a meeting of ASEAN leaders with AIPA representatives, President Jokowi also conveyed Indonesia's desire as Chair of ASEAN 2023 to contribute to building stronger ASEAN, which is able to face increasingly complex future challenges.

Being able to protect the region from external shocks and being able to maintain ASEAN independence amidst the rivalry of great powers. "I hope that the ASEAN state parliament's support for the chairmanship of Indonesia. Together we prove it to our people and the world, ASEAN remains relevant," said President Jokowi.

Jokowi has completed a series of meetings on the first day of the ASEAN Summit at Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Including holding bilateral meetings with Singaporean Prime Minister and Asian Development Bank President.

"The total meeting and activities that will be attended by the President are more than 20, plus four bilateral meetings, namely with the Prime Minister of Singapore, the President of the European Council, the Secretary General of the United Nations, and the President of the Asian Development Bank," said Retno in a statement at Phnom Penh on November 9, 2022.

The 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits on 10-13 November 2022 will be conducted in the form of plenary and retreat. In the plenary session, the Summit will discuss strengthening the capacity of ASEAN institutions and effectiveness.

"Meanwhile, for the retreat, there are two big issues that will be discussed, namely ASEAN's relationship with outsiders, of course, including external challenges faced by ASEAN and Myanmar's problems," emphasized Retno.