South China Sea: Indonesia asks China to honor UNCLOS

[Indos]

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (right) held a virtual bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi (left), on Thursday (July 30, 2020). (ANTARA/Foreign Minister Handout)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Expressing concern over the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, Indonesia has urged China to abide by international laws, including the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in settling disputes.

During a virtual bilateral meeting on Thursday with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said there is a need for China, as a signatory to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, to abide by the the code of conduct while trying to resolve disputes related to the South China Sea with Southeast Asian countries.

"The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) has been accessioned by many countries, including China, the United States, India, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. It is the obligation of those countries that have accessioned (to the TAC) to abide by its principles," Marsudi said in a media briefing.

The Foreign Minister stressed that dialogue is the best way to resolve conflicts and highlighted the consistent principle upheld by Indonesia in addressing the struggle for territory and power in the South China Sea: that of respecting international laws.

Indonesia believes that peace and stability in the South China Sea region can only be maintained if all countries respect and implement all relevant international laws, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

"I invite all parties to continue to prioritize cooperation and collaboration, rather than adverse rivalry," said Retno.

The situation in the South China Sea recently escalated again, with the US sending two aircraft carriers into the contested waters.

In a statement released on July 17, 2020, the US Navy stated that USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan were operating in the South China Sea to strengthen US commitments to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The presence of the two US aircraft carriers in the waters was not in response to political or global issues, rather, it was in connection to souring relations between the US and China over a number of issues ranging from the COVID-19 outbreak to the situation in Hong Kong, according to the statement.

A number of countries in the region, namely Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have opposed China's claims on around 90 percent of the South China Sea waters. The disputed area serves as a trade channel, and registers nearly US$3 trillion (equivalent to Rp44,264 trillion) in goods traffic per year.

China held military exercises in the contested waters earlier in July, 2020, which drew censure from Vietnam and the Philippines. Meanwhile, in a rare move, the US sent the two aircraft carriers into the South China Sea for what it referred to as “preliminary exercise” . (INE)

https://en.antaranews.com/news/153350/south-china-sea-indonesia-asks-china-to-honor-unclos

 

[Indos]

Antara is owned by Indonesian government.

 

[Nike]

You are not talking with current China on the premise as they were twenty years ago

 

[Viet]

You are not talking with current China on the premise as they were twenty years ago

The pacts China signed are still valid until chinese quit the pacts: Unclos, peace treaty with ASEAN. Unless they say they now have a bigger gun.

 

[vi-va]

China signed UNCLOS with the prerequisite that exclusion of South China Sea.
UNCLOS only valid when there is no water dispute.

 

[Viet]

China signed UNCLOS with the prerequisite that exclusion of South China Sea.
UNCLOS only valid when there is no water dispute.

Such “prerequisite” is a one sided diplomatic note and has no legal binding. If not worthless.
Vietnam has such note too when signing to Unclos.

 

[kankan326]

Indonesia became active recently. Why? US is behind?

 

[vi-va]

Such “prerequisite” is a one sided diplomatic note and has no legal binding. If not worthless.
Vietnam has such note too when signing to Unclos.

which means China has exclude South China Sea from UNCLOS.
UNCLOS has nothing to do with China on this dispute.

Only two way to solve this dispute, either by diplomacy or force.
Vietnam has a lower hand. Frankly speaking, you have lost this case no matter what.

 

[Feng Leng]

which means China has exclude South China Sea from UNCLOS.
UNCLOS has nothing to do with China on this dispute.

Only two way to solve this dispute, either by diplomacy or force.
Vietnam has a lower hand. Frankly speaking, you have lost this case no matter what.

UNCLOS is for the rest of the world's waters. The South China Sea only has the nine dashed line. That's all everybody needs to know.

 

[nufix]

UNCLOS is for the rest of the world's waters. The South China Sea only has the nine dashed line. That's all everybody needs to know.

On the contrary, the nine dash line is only for China to know. UNCLOS is for everybody to know. You should try to challenge UNCLOS if you want to have the nine dash line acknowledged by the whole world.

 

[mejikuhibiu]

Does world recognise nine dash line???

 

[Feng Leng]

Does world recognise nine dash line???

The oil companies do... they don't dare drill within the nine dashed line

 

[cochine]

which means China has exclude South China Sea from UNCLOS.
UNCLOS has nothing to do with China on this dispute.

Only two way to solve this dispute, either by diplomacy or force.
Vietnam has a lower hand. Frankly speaking, you have lost this case no matter what.

Occupation with force is illegal.

when you fight with USA and other Asean countries, China will be loser.

 

[cochine]

The oil companies do... they don't dare drill within the nine dashed line

Botton architecture is erected , next step will be done soon.

 

[cochine]

idiot nine dash.