US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be visiting Indonesia next week to engage in discussions with Southeast Asian allies. The purpose of the visit is to address China’s “coercive” actions in the disputed South China Sea. Prior to his trip to Indonesia, Blinken will travel to the United Kingdom and Lithuania to participate in NATO meetings alongside President Joe Biden.
According to Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, Blinken’s visit to Indonesia will involve multilateral engagements with ASEAN allies and partners. The talks will cover various topics including economic cooperation, the ongoing crisis in Burma, and Russia’s war in Ukraine. The objective of these discussions is to reinforce partnerships within the 10-member bloc and counter China’s provocative actions in the South China Sea.
Kritenbrink emphasized that all claimants of the South China Sea should adhere to international law when asserting their maritime claims and work towards peaceful resolutions. The United States does not expect these countries to choose sides, but rather wants to ensure that they have the freedom to make independent sovereign decisions. The aim is to work alongside ASEAN partners in advancing a shared vision and view for the region while pushing back against China’s irresponsible behavior in recent years.
China claims a significant portion of the South China Sea through its controversial nine-dash line, despite competing claims from neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who currently holds the ASEAN presidency, has repeatedly stated that the region rejects any conflicts in the Indo-Pacific and urges all parties to abide by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He emphasized that baseless claims should not be entertained and that ASEAN will continue its efforts to maintain stability in the region.
It is worth noting that Indonesia does not consider itself a party to the South China Sea dispute. However, there are certain areas within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone that overlap with Beijing’s claims of sovereignty. This adds an extra dimension to the discussions between Blinken and Indonesian officials.
The South China Sea has become a “hotbed of gray zone activity” according to Raymond Powell, a former US Air Force official and fellow at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. This term refers to actions taken by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that allow them to operate without direct detection or accountability. Powell explains that when a gray zone activity occurs, the message conveyed is to the government of the country involved, urging them to keep their relationship with China as uncomplicated as possible.
However, publicizing these incidents would impose a reputational cost on China for engaging in such behavior. While some countries may choose to remain silent and normalize the gray zone activity, doing so could eventually erode their own legal and internationally recognized rights within their exclusive economic zones.
China’s assertive behavior in the South China Sea has escalated in recent months, particularly seen through the presence of over 100 Chinese militia maritime vessels within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in April. In February, the Philippine Coast Guard reported an incident where a Chinese coast guard vessel used a “military-grade laser” against their ship, temporarily blinding the crew.
Overall, Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Indonesia seeks to address the rising tensions in the South China Sea, strengthen partnerships within ASEAN, and ensure adherence to international law in resolving the dispute. The discussions and engagements aim to promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region and counter China’s coercive actions.
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