Indonesia to help maintain peace in South China Sea

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab reiterated on Monday Indonesia's commitment to help maintain stability in the South China Sea despite the country's financial shortage.

"As the new foreign affairs minister, I guarantee that Indonesia will stay with its commitment to endorse peace, stability and cooperation in the region to prevent the occurrence or repetition of conflict there," Alwi said, referring to the long-standing dispute over the Spratly islands.

Alwi was addressing participants of the 10th workshop on the South China Sea conflict in Bogor, West Java, which is being organized by the Research and Development Agency.

Eight member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- Singapore, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia, Laos and Indonesia -- plus Taiwan and China are represented in the three-day event, Antara reported.

Alwi asserted that even in the midst of the economic crisis, the Indonesian government would stick to its foreign policy, which is to endorse peace in the world, in response to security concerns in the region.

The Spratlys, the reputedly mineral rich archipelago, have been claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan and ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The islands are also the subject of the rival claims in the South China Sea.

To settle the problems, ASEAN last month called on the disputed countries to support the 'code of conduct' to prevent clashes and to ease tension in the area. However, China appears to have ignored the agreement.

Participants, who consist of government officials, experts and academics, will discuss the possibility of developing cooperation and preventing further conflict in the area. (04)