‘Code needed for S. China Sea’
Even as the dragon has reared its head yet again, this time by staking claim to the tiny island of Sansha and by extension the South China Sea where it is located, Indonesia has emphasised the need for a code of conduct (CoC) in the disputed sea. India, which has also been needled often by China with respect to the South China Sea, is also hopeful that progress is made on the implementation of the CoC.
External affairs minister S.M. Krishna on Friday also reiterated New Delhi’s stand on the “need for freedom of navigation in this sea” and for all parties concerned to resolve the issue through dialogue.
Indonesia, while not a claimant to the waters of the South China Sea as part of the Asean grouping, is playing an important role by making strenuous efforts to ensure that the CoC is quickly enforced.
Leading the Indonesian efforts is the country’s foreign minister R.M. Marty M. Natalegawa.
Dr Natalegawa, who was in the capital to participate in the fourth meeting of the India-Indonesia Joint Commission as well as for bilateral talks said on Friday, “We need to quickly get the code of conduct legalised.”
The foreign minister noted that Indonesia has been engaged in an intense round of diplomatic efforts by trying to “regroup Asean to ensure that we are back to where we should be and are in a position to once again press on for the legalisation of the code of conduct”.
At the same time, he admitted that the Asean foreign ministers’ meet in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, earlier in July was “especially difficult” as it was unable to reach a consensus on a joint communiqué in view of recent incidents in the South China Sea.
He also said that discussions with China “to spell out what the CoC is all about” will be beginning soon. The recent incidents involving China and the South China Sea, he noted, “Simply provide a reminder that we do actually need a CoC for the South China Sea, some kind of a rule of the road type of regime so that the potential for conflict in the region is minimised” he said.
Post new comment