Jokowi Clarifies: Indonesia Still Neutral in S. China Sea Dispute
Tokyo. President Joko Widodo has reiterated that Indonesia will not side with any country in the ongoing South China Sea dispute.
"I need to declare that Indonesia is not siding with any party involved in the dispute," Joko told a press conference held during his official visit to Japan on Tuesday.
Previously several international news outlets reported Joko as saying that China had no legal claim over the South China Sea.
Joko said he was only referring to nine-dash line that China has marked and not about South China Sea in general, dismissing any indication that he was opposing China.
The president also said that Indonesia, as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, remains committed to the proposed Code of Conduct that is aimed at deescalating tensions in the South China Sea.
"If it necessary we are also ready to be a good mediator, that is what I was trying to say," Joko said.
Foreign Affairs Minister of Retno Marsudi, explained that Joko's statement about China's legal claims on territories within the the "nine-dash line" was merely an expression of his desire to finally end the South China Sea dispute.
"As the president has said, Indonesia has no overlapping claim whatsoever with China, please note that," Retno said.
Joko will head to China after visiting Japan, on his first trip outside Southeast Asia since becoming president.
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