Indonesia’s Widodo addresses US-China tensions, telling UN ‘war will benefit no one’

‘There is no point of celebrating victory among ruins. There is no point of becoming the largest economic power in the midst of a sinking world,’ Widodo said

Earlier this month, Indonesia’s government protested when a Chinese coastguard vessel entered the portion of the South China Sea it claims

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo addresses the United Nations General Assembly. Photo: AP

Published: 12:17pm, 23 Sep 2020Updated: 2:26pm, 23 Sep 2020

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo on Wednesday used his first address to the United Nations General Assembly to warn global stability and peace could be “destroyed” if growing geopolitical rivalries persist.

“War will benefit no one. There is no point of celebrating victory among ruins. There is no point of becoming the largest economic power in the midst of a sinking world,” the president said.

His comments came as tensions between the United States and China escalate, including in the South China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a position rejected by Washington and some Southeast Asian states, including Indonesia, citing provisions in the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea.

Earlier this month, Indonesia’s government protested when a Chinese coastguard vessel entered the portion of the South China Sea it claims. It was the latest of several Chinese incursions in the past year.

“The principles of the UN. Charter and international law are often neglected, including the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Widodo told the UN.

The dangers of US-China tensions were also addressed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippines has competing claims with Beijing in the South China Sea.

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