Jokowi, Muhyiddin Yassin See Eye to Eye on South China Sea

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin held a bilateral meeting at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. Both leaders discussed regional stability and security.

“I emphasize that stability will be created, including in the South China Sea if all countries respect international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982),” said Jokowi on Friday in a press statement together with the Malaysian PM. 

Muhyiddin, meanwhile, said the maritime issues in the waters of the South China Sea and their solutions should be done peacefully in accordance with internationally recognized principles of law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

“All parties need to refrain from doing actions that cause tension and are provocative and avoid using military force,” he said.

According to Muhyiddin Yassin, Malaysia is committed to resolving issues related to the South China Sea through appropriate forums and diplomatic channels.

The South China Sea is a strategic area adjacent to the waters of Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and China.

The waters are prone to conflicts as China unilaterally claimed most of the parts of the sea, which are also the main routes of international trade in the Indo-Pacific region. Besides, the United States frequently operates its military vessels and aircraft across the South China Sea.

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ANTARA