Indonesia Urges Peace in South China Sea After China-Philippines Confrontation

Indonesia has called for all parties to uphold peace in the South China Sea, reacting to a recent coercive action by China's coast guard against the Philippine military. The incident highlighted the critical role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in managing inter-state relations within the region, according to Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nabyl Achmad Mulachela.

"Indonesia encourages the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the South China Sea through dialogue, diplomacy, and, of course, based on international law, including UNCLOS," Nabyl told reporters in Jakarta. Indonesia is urging ASEAN member states and partners to prioritize diplomatic channels for conflict resolution, referencing key frameworks such as the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, and the ASEAN Charter.

The confrontation, which occurred on July 20, involved Chinese coast guard vessels allegedly ramming a Philippine boat and injuring a fisherman. China, however, claims Philippine naval vessels ignored warnings and collided with a Chinese patrol ship. The disputed area, the Second Thomas Shoal near the Spratly Islands, falls within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which China has ratified.

Manila has consistently urged Beijing to respect the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling, which China refuses to acknowledge. The United States State Department has also condemned China's actions, labeling them "dangerous and aggressive." Washington stated that Beijing's pattern of provocation against legitimate Philippine maritime operations disrupts regional peace and stability, contradicting China's commitment to peaceful dispute resolution.

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Indonesia encourages the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the South China Sea through dialogue, diplomacy, and, of course, based on international law, including UNCLOS.