The Issue Of The South China Sea And The Russia-Ukraine Conflict Was Discussed At The AIPA Session

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani (Dok DPR Photo)

JAKARTA - President of AIPA 2023, Puan Maharani highlighted various multi-dimensional crises in the ASEAN region and globally at the 44th AIPA General Assembly whose series began on August 5 to today. Today the delegates were invited to visit Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) as a miniature of Indonesia.

"The current world situation is still faced with fragmentation between countries, tensions and geopolitical conflicts, social and economic inequality, poverty, transnational crime, slowing global economic growth trends, increasingly impacting climate change threats, and unresolved post-pandemics," said Puan at the 44th AIPA Session.

According to the first woman to serve as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives, the theme of the 44th AIPA Session is a commitment in responding to various global and regional challenges and problems towards a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region. Puan also asked AIPA to maintain ASEAN solidity.

Puan has handed over the baton of her presence in AIPA to Laos, which will hold the AIPA Presidency next year. The 45th AIPA General Assembly will be held in Laos in October 2024.

While holding a bilateral meeting with the President of the National Assembly of Laos, Xaysomphone Phomvihane at the DPR Building yesterday, Wednesday (9/8), Puan expressed her hope that this year's AIPA theme could continue at AIPA 2024. This is because the various challenges faced today cannot be resolved in just one year.

"Then peace in the South China Sea, through respect for UNCLOS 1982 and for us to prioritize dialogue to manage rivalities major powers in the region," added the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

The issue of the South China Sea dispute was also mentioned by the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Lodewijk F. Paulus, who was the leader of the Indonesian Delegation at the 44th AIPA General Assembly. At the beginning of the trial, he asked ASEAN countries to overcome global challenges faced by regions such as poverty, inequality, and climate disasters.

Lodewijk also highlighted specific challenges in ASEAN, including the situation in Myanmar and disputes in the South China Sea. Indonesia itself is one of the mediators to countries involved in the South China Sea dispute where this issue is still a polemic for a number of countries in Southeast Asia.

The situation, including dynamic developments in the Indo-Pacific, should not keep us silent and not act. As AIPA, we are required to take swift, precise, and sustainable steps to ensure the safety and progress of our people, as well as keep their hopes growing, "said Lodewijk.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib encourages reciprocal collaboration and unshakable cooperation for AIPA lawmakers. According to him, ASEAN can collectively overcome challenges, encourage inclusive development, and build a stable and prosperous ASEAN community that is in line with the needs and aspirations of the current and future generations.

Then the Second Vice President of the Cambodian Royal Senate, Kitti Sangkaha Bandit Tep Ngorn, who led his country's delegation, mentioned the economic resilience in ASEAN. He also encourages economic growth with social and environmental inclusion.

Kitti also asked AIPA to encourage the ASEAN government to engage in regional initiatives and comply with the UN Charter and the ASEAN Charter, namely the Non-Proliferation Treaty' and preservation of Southeast Asian nuclear-free weapons and other non-lethal weapons immortalized in Southeast Asia's Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone Agreement.

Furthermore, the Speaker of the Laos Parliament, Xaysomphone Phomvihane at the 44th AIPA General Assembly said it would continue to promote greater connectivity and integration, while ensuring comprehensive resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainable development at the AIPA General Assembly which will take place in Laos next year.

Then the Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Tan Sri Dato Johari Abdul, highlighted the issue of food security in the midst of geopolitical tensions that occurred, which also became one of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Philippine Parliament, Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez spoke about the importance of people-to-people relations in ASEAN to encourage deeper social cohesion and a strong global and regional economy.

Legal issues were also in the spotlight at the 44th AIPA General Assembly, as stated by the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Thailand, Wanmuhamadnoor Matha. He emphasized Thailand's desire to witness the increase in legal harmonization among ASEAN Member States, and ensure effective implementation of the ASEAN agreement in various fields.

On the other hand, Vietnam's Speaker Vuong Dinh Hue reminded the ASEAN Parliament to play an important role in strengthening unity and centrality in Southeast Asia as well as maintaining regional peace, security and stability. He also invited AIPA members and observer countries to send their young MPs to the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliament Members organized by Vietnam this September in Hanoi.

At the AIPA General Assembly in Jakarta, there was also an issue of conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which is still happening. The head of the Singapore Parliament Delegation, Mohd Fahmi bin Aliman, assessed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the increasing tension between the US and China should be of concern.

The Singaporean parliament expressed its hope for a quick and peaceful resolution of the Russian-Ukraine conflict. They also requested that ASEAN member countries be impartial in US-Chinese relations, which could lead to divisions.

Russia and Ukraine were also involved in the 44th AIPA General Assembly. As observer countries, Russia and Ukraine held a dialogue session with representatives of AIPA countries.

Member of the House of Representatives' Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP) Irene Yusiana Roba Putri leads a dialogue session between AIPA countries and Delegations from Ukraine. At the dialogue forum, AIPA countries encouraged peace in the conflict area.

In the forum we heard an observer from the Ukrainian state, who explained the current conditions in his country. How the conflict with Russia has an impact on the Ukrainian people, "said Irine.

Each representative of AIPA member countries also responded to the matter and supported peace with Russia immediately for the welfare of the people. Although geographically Ukraine and Russia are far from Southeast Asia, Irine said, AIPA members believe that when the Russian-Ukraine conflict ends it will have a positive impact on countries in ASEAN.

"Why? Of course, the relationship between technology, education or social and economic will return to running well. So in principle it becomes a common call for every country around the world to create peace," he said.

In the dialogue, the Ukrainian delegation led by Oleksandr Merezhko expressed disappointment with several systems related to resolving conflicts with Russia. Especially the system at the United Nations that doesn't seem to side with them.

"If Indonesia itself has been in diplomatic relations with Ukraine since 1992, and Indonesia in parliament today we still have friendsip group relations with Ukraine. And several times the chairman has communicated with the Ambassador from Ukraine regarding the conflict with Russia," said Irine.

Apart from Ukraine and Russia, other observables attending the 44th AIPA General Assembly were from the Australian, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, China, European Union, Georgia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Moroko, Norway and Timor-Leste who were waiting for their full membership in ASEAN.

Then invited guests at this session were from Armenia, Turkey, the United Nations, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), the Freeland Foundation, the International Conservation Reference Foundation (ICCF), the Parliamentary Center of Asia (PCASIA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

BKSAP member Charles Honoris led the dialogue between Delegations from the United States and AIPA member countries. The US delegation was led by Senator Tammy Duckworth, who is a veteran of the Uncle Sam's country's armed forces.

"In the meeting we agreed to strengthen regional cooperation with the United States as one of the countries that has great attention to the Southeast Asia region," Charles explained.

The Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the DPR RI revealed the cooperation in question, of course, in various fields. Like, said Charles, from the fields of politics, security, economy and others.