Marty wants progress on S. China Sea disputes at ASEAN meetings

Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa says he hopes two upcoming high-level ASEAN meetings will help resolve competing territorial claims to parts of the South China Sea.

Indonesia will host the 44th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and the 18th ASEAN Regional Forum on July 16-23.

China and ASEAN member nations such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia have an ongoing dispute on several parts of the South China Sea, including the oil-and-gas rich Spratly and Paracel Islands.

“In a meeting with Brunei Darussalam Foreign Minister Mohamed Bolkiah this morning we agreed to discuss further the guidance of implementation of the Declaration of Conduct (DOC) that was agreed to by the concerned parties 10 years ago,” Marty said Monday as quoted by Antara.

“I hope during this Bali meeting the guidance for the DoC can be materialized,” Marty said after a joint cooperation commission meeting between Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam on Monday morning.

Marty said concerned countries had to implement the DoC as soon as possible to prevent potential South China Sea conflicts.

A Filipino plan to bring its dispute before the United Nations would not be a problem, Marty said.

“There are some mechanisms for all countries to settle their international problems whether through bilateral or multilateral settlements. I think there is nothing wrong with that as long as they complement each other,” he said.

It was most important for ASEAN countries to create a conducive situation for resolving the South China Sea conflict, he said.

Separately ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the conflict had raised international concerns since the South China Sea straddled global trade routes.

Surin urged all the parties to agree to DoC guidance. “I’m sure we can settle this issue. Let’s prove to the world that ASEAN and China can settle their conflicts peacefully.”