According to a new article posted on the website news.cgtn.com (Indonesia), the efforts to seek peace in the region and the realization of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea (East Sea) demonstrate the common desire for harmony between China and its ASEAN partners.
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| An area of the South China Sea seen from above. (Source: VCG/Global Times) |
The article argues that the ongoing strategic readjustment in the South China Sea marks a turning point, in which the Philippines’ tendency to cooperate with ASEAN members and China has become an important factor. This move will not only address immediate concerns in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Underscoring this spirit of cooperation, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi expressed her country’s desire to cooperate in the expeditious conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). The views expressed during a joint press conference with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo in Manila, echoed the commitment to collective diplomatic strength, showing an optimistic outlook on Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s visit to the Philippines from January 9-11.
According to the article, as a key player in the current ASEAN context, Indonesia has been continuously at the forefront of the COC’s implementation. Foreign Minister Marsudi’s statement reflects the common desire within ASEAN to quickly establish a code of conduct that is acceptable to all countries in the region through diplomatic negotiations.
Furthermore, Indonesia’s enthusiastic efforts to finalize the COC underscore the widespread vigilance of the countries in the South China Sea. Actions that are different from ASEAN’s stance and the instability in the South China Sea have been and are weakening the cohesion of the regional bloc. This not only endangers ASEAN’s united front, destabilizes the regional position, but also hinders the overall stability and peaceful progress.
In recent times, with the escalation of regional tensions that have aggravated the situation in the South China Sea, the development of an alternative Code of Conduct is seen as a move away from the long-standing path of development. According to the article, any COC without China’s participation is not only ineffective but also unlikely to gain recognition from ASEAN members. The reason is that the South China Sea is intricately related to core interests and China plays a pivotal role in related issues.
If any country separates itself from ASEAN countries on the East Sea issue, the COC negotiations will face many challenges.
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| Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Source: Bloomberg) |
Meanwhile, China's Global Times analyzed Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to the Philippines and quoted Chinese experts expressing their belief that the COC cannot be achieved without the consensus of all countries in the region, which must include China.
After meeting with Mr. Widodo, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said they had a “productive and honest discussion” on regional issues of mutual interest, including developments in the South China Sea, media reported. However, according to The Strait Times on January 10, the Indonesian side did not mention details, only saying that the two countries agreed to “speed up the revision of joint border patrol and crossing agreements, as well as enhance defense cooperation including military hardware.”
According to the Global Times , Gu Xiaosong, Dean of the Institute of ASEAN Studies at Hainan Tropical Ocean University, said that Widodo's trip to the Philippines demonstrates Indonesia's strong commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region. The Chinese state-run newspaper quoted experts as saying that the Indonesian president's visit comes at a time when the world is in turmoil, the US, Europe and the Middle East are all in turmoil, and the troubles in the South China Sea could cause instability, threatening the hard-won peace and stability in Southeast Asia.
The article on news.cgtn.com concluded that the discussions on the COC are progressing positively, serving as an important “pressure relief valve” to prevent conflicts arising from disputes between parties. In fact, maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea is of utmost importance to promote the development and prosperity of the Philippines. Simply put, abiding by the DOC and the COC is the only way for China and ASEAN countries to build a stable and peaceful region in the South China Sea.
Success depends on pursuing a common goal together, overcoming challenges together in unified progress, in the current context that China and ASEAN are at a pivotal moment in negotiations on the “code of conduct”.
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