TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko met today, November 13, with U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Yong Kim at the Presidential Staff Office, Central Jakarta. They deliberated security issues in the South China Sea.

In a written statement, Kim said that Indonesia plays an important role in maintaining security stability in the South China Sea. Kim hoped that Indonesia and the United States could further boost cooperation in the area.

“We believe Indonesia has a role to lead. Because we share the same concerns over China's activities in the South China Sea,” said Kim.

Responding to Kim's statement, Moeldoko said that Indonesia was basically in a neutral position in dealing with the heated situation in the South China Sea. “But Indonesia has the interest to contribute to the stability of the South China Sea,” he underlined.

He recalled that when he served as a military commander, he once told his Chinese counterpart that Indonesia did not expect instability in the South China Sea region.

“We have very serious concerns over China's steps in the area,” Moeldoko added.

Situations in the South China Sea remain tense and wrapped in uncertainties to date. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in his speech at the 23rd ASEAN-China High-Level Summit emphasized that Indonesia had the responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the area.

Read: South China Sea: Indonesia Asks China to Honor UNCLOS

EGI ADYATAMA