South China Sea Conflict, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin Asks ASEAN To Open Communication With China

Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin gave a statement at the ASEAN-RRRT high-level meeting as a series of ASEAN 45th Summits in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday (10/10/2024). (ANTARA)

VIENTIANE - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin proposed the reactivation of direct communication between top ASEAN officials and the People's Republic of China (RRT) to discuss the situation in the South China Sea which is still in tension.

"I propose the reactivation of direct communication lines between high ASEAN officials and the People's Republic of China which have been agreed since 2016 to prevent incidents in the South China Sea," said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin at a high-level ASEAN-RRT meeting as a series of ASEAN 45th Summits in Vientiane, Laos, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 10.

The vice president said that the conflict in the South China Sea would have an impact on the Southeast Asia region and the world.

For this reason, the Vice President invited ASEAN and Chinese member countries to resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue with respect to international law, especially the UN Convention on Marine Law (UNCLOS) adopted in 1982.

The Vice President also views the importance of completing the Code of Conduct (Code of Conduct) between ASEAN-RRT in 2026.

The issue of tension in the South China Sea has become one of the topics in the ASEAN 45th Summit series in Laos, as well as discussing the crisis in Myanmar and the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Regarding the situation in the South China Sea, which has become very tense lately amid a territorial dispute between China-Vietnam and China-Philippines, ASEAN leaders have called on the parties to implement international law norms, namely the United Nations Convention on Maritime Law in 1982.

Based on information gathered on August 19, 2024, several Chinese and Philippine vessels also collided around the area.

Philippine coast guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said the action of the Chinese coast guard ship near Beting Sabina resulted in a collision that caused damage to two Philippine coast guard vessels.

However, Chinese coast guard spokesman Geng Yu said two Philippine coast guard vessels illegally broke through Xianbin Reef waters.

Another collision occurred on August 25, 2024, and both parties again blamed each other. China is considered to have blocked two Philippine ships carrying out "humanitarian missions" to deliver logistical supplies tomanfaat Magbuana, a Philippine coast guard ship deployed to Sabina Shoal a few months ago.

The RRT government claims to have sovereign and jurisdictional rights over islands called "Nanhai Zhudao" in the South China Sea, consisting of Dongsha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao, and Nansha Qundao and the surrounding waters.