Indonesia’s ‘significant’ South China Sea comments not a sign of ‘nascent alliance’ with US

Indonesia’s joint statement with the US on the South China Sea is seen as a move to increase support for Southeast Asian claimants, analysts say

The ‘important and necessary’ statement is also a significant shift from Indonesia’s previous neutral stance on the territorial dispute

4-MIN READ4-MIN

A China Coast Guard ship is seen from an Indonesian naval ship during a patrol on January 11, 2020. Photo: Antara Foto/Reuters

Published: 6:00pm, 31 Aug 2023

Indonesia’s recent joint statement with the United States expressing concern over China’s claims in the South China Sea indicates it sees Beijing as a security threat, though Jakarta’s move to “level up” support for Southeast Asian claimants does not indicate a “nascent alliance” with Washington, analysts have said.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto met last Thursday in Washington, where both shared their mutual intention to increase defence capabilities, including on “fighter aircraft upgrades, new multi-role fighter aircraft and additional fixed and rotary wing transport aircraft”, the Pentagon said.

The two countries also stated that Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea were “inconsistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos)”.

Aristyo Rizka Darmawan, a lecturer in international law at the University of Indonesia, said the statement marked a shift in Indonesia’s stance of adopting a position of neutrality.

“As a non-claimant, Indonesia has often avoided directly confronting China,” Darmawan said, adding that it was “a significant gesture” for Indonesia to mention China in a joint statement with the US.

In light of recent naval incidents between the Philippine and China Coast Guard in the South China Sea, Dermawan said Jakarta’s statement in urging Beijing to comply with international law was “important and necessary”.

“It is important for other Asean states to stand together in condemning China’s assertive action,” Darmawan said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping.