S. China Sea rim countries told to address terrorism

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Countries bordering the South China Sea are facing yet another challenge of terrorism that needs addressing as part of the efforts to manage potential conflicts in the area, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said.

Hassan asserted that the threat would be a "time bomb" if not dealt with properly.

"One of these challenges has loomed larger than the rest and that is the threat of terrorism. We cannot afford to be complacent in the face of that threat," Hassan said in the opening address of the 12th workshop on managing potential conflicts in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

He underlined that the sea lanes were vital to peace and security in the region and should not be vulnerable to international terrorism.

Indonesia has organized the workshop since 1989 as a forum of regular dialog between those countries in the rim to prevent possible outbreaks of conflict.

The workshops have usually been conducted in an informal manner, where all participants, such as officials, experts and observers, come in their personal capacity.

Hassan said that the main objective of the forum was to turn the arena of potential conflict into that which could be beneficial for the related countries.

It was in the interest of all countries in the region that potential conflicts should be averted, to foster peace in the region, Hassan said.

The minister said that there were a series of challenges to be dealt with, however the global issue on terrorism should be taken into account in the area where many countries had overlapping maritime boundaries.

"Today, the workshop is called upon to respond with figures commensurate to the magnitude of the threat," the minister said.

The regular dialog had reached a breakthrough with the inception of a biodiversity expedition around Anambas island, in Indonesian territory in March this year.

With the initial effort on Anambas island, Hassan said the workshops could further develop more concrete programs in legal, information sectors and research.

The one-day annual workshop was attended by 75 participants from 11 countries in the rim: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.