A couple of weeks ago our presidential hopefuls gave their perspectives on the Ambalat case. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia would not compromise its sovereignty in the disputed Ambalat waters.

Jusuf Kalla said Indonesia must take action and be prepared to wage war over border breaches in the disputed waters.

Megawati was not so much worried about any possible war between the two countries, but more the possibility that Malaysian military allies would besiege Indonesia, should Malaysia enforce its will regarding Ambalat.  

The prolonged tension is sure to drag elements from both countries to assure that their respective national interests are not in danger and are protected. The decision of our legislative members to meet officials in Kuala Lumpur reflects such sentiments, though many doubt if this move will result in a change in Kula Lumpur’s policy.

The 15,235-sq-km Ambalat region is believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves that could be exploited for approximately 30 years. Both countries have claimed the Ambalat block near their common border, off the eastern coast of Kalimantan, is their own. Indonesia and Malaysia have something in common, namely sovereignty, development and friendship.

Both countries understand the oil and gas reserve in question is strategically important for their future economic development. ASEAN’s reputation as a “club of friendly countries” will be compromised should the two countries enforce their will over Ambalat.

The dispute will not end anytime soon; the next administration will have to deal with the problem. Perhaps it would be worth for the next government to conduct scientific research in the area to see if it is strategically and economically beneficial enough for Indonesia to fight for. This would mean the government would have to increase its scientific research spending.

Whoever our next president is, they must remember that science and technology have tremendous applications for, and effects on, the country’s foreign policy.  Given Indonesia’s vast geographical area, innovation in its approach to regional affairs and to some extent in technology – Indonesia is home to winner of Science Olympics – countries in Southeast Asia may want to cooperate and benefit from the country’s ideas and products.

Our government does not seem to have taken full advantage of the potential of science to improve foreign affairs and ensure healthier regional strategic milieu. Indeed, science is often seen as being far removed from diplomacy. The dispute over Ambalat has the potential to erupt into full blown conflict, but the need for scientific research, whatever the outcome, would require mutual cooperation. This point has been overlooked.

Scientific cooperation and engagement in the disputed area, of scientific diplomacy, should be conducted with the explicit intent of fostering a positive relationship with the Malaysian government. However, such engagement should not be undertaken at the expense of respective sovereignty. To ensure this, the government must do the following:  

First, think strategically. Scientific cooperation could be a fruitful way to engage Malaysia at the time when diplomatic relations are the subject of waves of protest here. Scientists from Indonesia and Malaysia could work together on issues of mutual interests and discuss potential areas of cooperation, surrounding Ambalat of course, outside the realm of politics.

Second, think defensively as well as offensively. Indonesian’s current standpoint that Ambalat is legally within its jurisdiction is firm. This standpoint, however, should not prevent the two countries from having access to each other’s respective technologies in order to better develop the potentials of the Ambalat.

But such a defensive policy should be matched with better offensive policies, namely by attracting Malaysia’s best and brightest scientists to Indonesia, and in turn sending Indonesian scientists to Malaysia to ensure they better understand our interests, particularly with regard to the issue of Ambalat.

Third, think about people and not just the government. The initiative of our legislative members to visit Malaysian policy makers, as a form of protest, is positive in its essence.  This public diplomacy opportunity reminded Malaysia of Indonesia’s position on the issue. This highlighted the constructive partnership between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, a friendship which so far has been the underlying spirit of ASEAN cooperation.

We are not sure when and how the Ambalat case will be resolved. The government in Jakarta may face even more complex challenges regarding the issue and it therefore can no longer overlook such a useful instrument of statecraft.

Now is the time for the government in Jakarta to take advantage of scientific diplomacy by mobilizing the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Defense and other technical departments and agencies such as LIPI (Indonesian Institute of Sciences).

The incoming administration should start considering the possibilities of scientific diplomacy, not just for Ambalat. It could become one of the strongest arrows in our foreign policy quiver. A key to success will definitely be the spirit of the engagement between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

The writer is the chairman of the Indonesian Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and a lecturer of International Relations at the University of Indonesia.

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