Dino Patti Djalal appreciates Indonesia's decision not to impose Malacca Strait tariffs

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Founder of the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) Dino Patti Djalal has expressed appreciation for Foreign Minister Sugiono’s statement that Indonesia will not impose tariffs in the Malacca Strait. “I appreciate Foreign Minister Sugiono’s statement rejecting the discourse on collecting taxes from ships passing through the Malacca Strait,” Dino said in a post on social media platform X on Friday. According to him, if such tariffs were implemented, the impact would be very detrimental to Indonesia’s international image and credibility as the pioneer and architect of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Furthermore, he said, it could potentially damage the atmosphere of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Philippines, in May, which will be attended by President Prabowo Subianto. This is because the imposition of fees that violate international law would certainly be protested by neighbouring countries and the international community, and it would shake the currently fragile global economy. “Remember that we are highly dependent on the law of the sea convention, as an instrument of international law that guarantees the validity of the archipelagic outlook concept of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), where Indonesia finally has full sovereignty over the seas between the archipelago that were previously international free seas,” he said. Dino advised government officials to continue prioritising caution and wisdom in making statements in public spaces so that their communication remains clear. “First coordinate policy initiatives or new ideas through inter-departmental mechanisms and seek presidential approval,” he wrote in the post.