RI`s stand on South China Sea conflict remains unchanged: President Jokowi

Indonesias stand on the South China Sea conflict remains unchanged, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated.

"Of course, we will discuss the South China Sea issue. Indonesia is not a claimant state in this conflict," he affirmed before attending the US-ASEAN Summit at Miramonte Resort, Indian Wells, California, on Monday morning (Tuesday morning in Jakarta).

Indonesia believes that the dialog process is necessary to resolve the conflict soon, he noted.

Jokowi emphasized that the South China Sea must be a peaceful and stable region.

"The international law must be respected and rivalry among major forces must be prevented," he remarked.

Although Indonesia is a non-claimant state, the country continues to contribute to confidence building measures through a wide range of activities, he pointed out.

The activities include periodically hosting Workshops on Managing Potential Conflict in the South China Sea by involving all relevant parties. 

In addition, Indonesia has initiated a formula 3+1 agreed upon during its 2011 ASEAN chairmanship and the ASEAN Six-Point Principles to reiterate ASEANs centrality. 

The South China Sea is claimed wholly or partly by China, Taiwan, and four ASEAN member states: Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.(*)

Source: ANTARA