The US Called No Need For ASEAN Sides In Conflict With China

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo poses with fellow ASEAN foreign ministers (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries expressed their desire to remain in a neutral position. ASEAN does not want to take a position anywhere in the conflict between the United States (US) and China.

US responds. Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asia and Asia Pacific David R. Stilwell said that the United States (US) has never asked ASEAN countries to take sides.

"We heard from our friends of ASEAN member countries about the desire that they are not in a situation to vote, whether to side with China or side with the US. For the US, we never force a choice and do not want something like that," he said, quoted Tuesday, 15th of September.

On the other hand, China reportedly often asks ASEAN countries to take sides. Even though China's track record in the Southeast Asia region is not good.

China often gets into problems with ASEAN countries. For example, the issue of the South China Sea and the Mekong River, in which the Bamboo Curtain country maneuvers that threaten the sovereignty of other countries.

Stilwell said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had always been vocal about China's maneuvers in the South China Sea dispute. The maneuver is now causing tensions between China and ASEAN member countries.

Pompeo underscored the importance of respecting international law in the South China Sea. Stilwell said that the US was always open to ASEAN member countries in building cooperation in all fields, such as the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Cooperation with ASEAN member countries must bring stability and peace in the region as well as positive results. And the US wants that," he said.

In building cooperation with ASEAN partners, the US respects the sovereignty of the member countries in the Southeast Asian region.