Jokowi Calls for Amicable Resolution to South China Sea Conflict

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called for peaceful resolution to potential conflict in the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. Jokowi conveyed the message on Friday, May 27, 2016, during his speech before the Group of Seven (G7) leaders in the G7 outreach meetings in Ise Shima, Japan.

“Any potential escalation of conflict in Asia, such as in South China Sea and Korean Peninsula, must be well-managed,” Jokowi said.

According to him, Asian states must actively participate in building stability and peace in the region. The President asserted that it is high time for the world to realize the importance of conflict resolution without creating bigger problems.

Jokowi said that military solutions will ony lead to more violence. “Military solutions or the use of violance will breed more violence instead, such as extremism and even humanitarian crisis,” he said.

Indonesia does not want Asia to become a conflict-ridden area and an arena for power projection of major powers, Jokowi said. “Indonesia would also like to underline that all states, I repeat, all states without exception must respect international law,” Jokowi said. Without respect for international law, peace and stability will not be achieved.

President Jokowi conveyed the speech for five minutes in Indonesian in the first session of the G7 outreach meetings before the G7 leaders, namely U.S. President Barack Obama, Chancellor of German Angela Merkel, President of France Francoise Hollande, President of Canada Justin Trudeau, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, UK Prime Minister James Cameron, and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. The session was also attended by guest states, such as Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Chad and Vietnam.

In the session, President Joko Widodo was accompanied by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

ANANDA TERESIA