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mid the growing tension in the South China Sea that threatens a confrontation between China and the United States, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says that middle and smaller powers also have a stake in ensuring the rivalry does not spiral into outright conflict.

Speaking before the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, a prominent defense conference, in Singapore on Friday, Yudhoyono said that both the US and China had an obligation not just to themselves but also to the rest of the region to develop peaceful cooperation.

“Keep in mind that the relations of major powers are not entirely up to them,” said Yudhoyono.

“Middle and smaller powers too can help lock the major powers into this durable [regional] architecture, through a variety of instruments. For example, in Bali last year, 18 leaders taking part in the East Asia Summit agreed to a set of morally binding principles which, if adhered to, would help foster a more stable and peaceful region.”

Yudhoyono called on the two superpowers to forge a positive and cooperative relationship.

Yudhoyono said that Indonesia’s proposal of a “regional architecture” should ensure that relations between the two powers remained peaceful, stable and cooperative well into the future.

“If a new pattern of polarization and rivalry between the major powers emerges, it would be a step backward and lead regional affairs in the wrong direction,” said Yudhoyono.

“In this connection, we are encouraged that the United States and China are attempting to ‘evolve’ a positive and cooperative relationship. Given their combined strategic, diplomatic, economic and demographic weight, US-China relations will have impacts far beyond their bilateral relations.”

Tensions between the US and China have ebbed and flowed, with the recent surge in tensions involving China becoming more adamant in its claim to some territories in the South China Sea, which has sparked protests from the Philippines — a key US ally in the region — and several other members of ASEAN.

Due to the claims, coupled with North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, the US has determined to shift its focus to the region.

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, a participant of the Singapore conference, is expected to lay out more details of the US plans to increase the number of troops and military equipment in the Asia-
Pacific, as reported by Reuters.

He would not describe US military assets — ships, aircraft, radars or other high-tech systems — that the US was willing to devote to the region. He told reporters traveling with him to Singapore on Thursday that the US could provide weapons, technological assistance and other aid to the countries based on their individual needs, Reuters reported.

The conference, however, may be somewhat diminished by the lack of attendance by key Chinese leaders, particularly following recent regional meetings where they asserted stronger claims to the South China Sea.

Yudhoyono said that most geopolitical risks today came not so much from the threat of military attack but from mistrust, miscalculation and miscommunication, which gave rise to the occasional incidents.

“This is why we are seeing an escalation of disputes, border clashes, naval stand-offs and brinkmanship.”

“There are still gaps that need to be reduced, especially among major powers where the potential for strategic rivalry is still reasonably high. One way to promote greater confidence building to reduce this gap is to hold joint military exercises, which would include countries such as the United States and China. Indonesia is willing to be part of these efforts,” said Yudhoyono.