TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was scheduled to meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila on Wednesday, Jan. 10. He revealed that one of the issues to be discussed is the South China Sea.

Tensions have risen in the South China Sea in recent weeks as China and the Philippines, which is allied with the United States, conducted intensive patrols in waters that also border Indonesia.

“One of them [is discussing tensions in the South China Sea],” the President said, revealing the agenda of the upcoming meeting with Marcos, before leaving for the Philippines at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, East Jakarta, on Tuesday, January 9.

However, he did not elaborate on his statement. A spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Lalu M. Iqbal, was also reluctant to detail the topics of the bilateral meeting.

“The Foreign Ministry will issue an official statement regarding the bilateral meeting tomorrow,” Iqbal told Tempo in a text message.

Earlier today, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia was ready to collaborate with other Southeast Asian countries to conclude a protracted code of conduct on the South China Sea, where many neighbors share claims with China.

“On the South China Sea, Indonesia is ready to work together with all ASEAN member states including the Philippines to finalize the code of conduct as soon as possible,” Retno said at a joint press conference with her Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, in Manila, as quoted from Reuters.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been attempting to establish a framework for negotiations on the code of conduct since 2002. But progress has been sluggish despite the commitment of all parties.

Aside from the Philippines, President Jokowi would also visit Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam for bilateral meetings, and to accept an invitation from Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to attend the wedding of his son, Prince Mateen.

DANIEL A. FAJRI | REUTERS

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