By: Franky *)
The “sovereignty conflict” in South China Sea region still not reached the point of light. This conflict originated from military conflicts in the Paracel Islands in 1974 between China and Vietnam that killed 18 troops. Dispute heats up when China, in 1992, asserted its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and claimed the entire area in the South China Sea. The claims infuriated the main ASEAN countries whose territory “seized” by the Chinese. Such activities as the existence of expropriation; confiscation of fish catches and fishing equipment belonging to Vietnam by Chinese-owned vessel near the Paracel Islands as well as the sabotage of the Vietnam’s companies survey vessel and oil exploration, Binh Minh 2 in mid-June 2011; the shooting of Philippine fishing boats by Chinese warships in February to May 2011; intimidation of Philippine oil exploration ship MV Veritas Voyager; and the construction of posts and placement of buoys around the South China Sea showing China’s increasingly aggressive. Projected by 2015 China will hold at least 350 maritime patrol ships and fighter planes. While up to 2020 the number of warships would be deployed to increase to 520 units.
The ASEAN countries’ struggle towards a Code of Conduct (CoC) have been more stretched, expected as the Chinese’s desire. The internationalization of the South China Sea security issues by ASEAN at the ARF meeting in Hanoi in 2010 was immediately drew criticism from the Chinese government. Diplomatic measures by ASEAN countries are already produced a declaration called the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea and ratified on November 4, 2002. In that declaration, ASEAN and China have agreed that the territorial dispute in the Sea Southern China is not going to become an international issue. ASEAN Declaration also called on the countries involved in the South China Sea conflict to refrain from the use of violence and prioritize peaceful ways to resolve conflict. But on their way to the Code of Conduct (CoC), ASEAN countries actually take ambigious steps especially the states that had “compromised” with China. ASEAN countries realize that the protracted differences between them will weaken and worsen the position of the image of ASEAN. Indeed, determining the weight and take a stand in this conflict considering China is a regional economic powerhouse and a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), which has veto power. But firmness and compactness ASEAN should begin demonstrated, especially in 2015 when ASEAN Economic Community will be established.
Indonesia as one of the initiators and founders of ASEAN which is also the largest country in ASEAN must be able to ensure the completion of this conflict through peaceful and without any war. If Indonesia fails to bring a peaceful settlement of this conflict, it will create an image that it is a big failure for Indonesia to lead ASEAN. But if Indonesia managed to bring the settlement of this conflict in a peaceful atmosphere, Indonesia will be a real leader for ASEAN. Therefore, regardless of whether or not parts of Indonesia in the claims of other countries in this conflict, Indonesia as a big country and the leader of ASEAN should strive to be active in the settlement of this conflict. The effort is also to commemorate the success of Indonesia in ASEAN Economic Community which will begin late 2015’s.
*) The Author Is Papua Regional Contributors
