It is undeniable that the South China Sea regional dispute between China and several other countries, including ASEAN member states, turned out to be a long-standing and unresolved dispute. Indonesia, a country directly adjacent to the South China Sea, has made several efforts to deal with the South China Sea case, including unilateral and multilateral cooperation as an ASEAN member. In this cooperation, of course, it causes many positive and negative impacts. In this article I will focus on discussing the positive impact, namely the benefits of this security diplomacy for the countries involved and for the Indonesian state itself.
Indonesia's participation in handling conflicts in the South China Sea is based on national interests in contributing to the maintenance of world peace. From a practical point of view, resolving conflicts in the South China Sea is not only economically beneficial but also security-wise and politically beneficial. The amount of economic potential can be seen from the shipping routes, natural components in the form of oil, gas, and minerals, and the abundance of fish. Therefore, Dispute Resolution has great benefits not only for people in the South China Sea, but also for Indonesia itself and for the international community. Considering for Indonesia in this Performance Principle, Indonesia needs to remain vigilant about the security and defense situation in the South China Sea, where many countries in the region often experience various conflicts. This dispute has economic significance, considering that this region is not only geographically very close to Indonesia's exclusive economic zone, but also one of the international economic routes through which Indonesian imports and exports pass and will have a huge impact. So it is very influential on trade or cross-import or export. The following is a detailed explanation of the benefits of Indonesia's security diplomacy with ASEAN for the countries involved and the Indonesian state itself:
1. Benefits of Indonesia's Cooperation With ASEAN ( Security Diplomacy)
Security diplomacy plays an important role in the South China Sea conflict, which is one of the most controversial maritime regions in the world today. Where Indonesia's security diplomacy with ASEAN has several benefits in maintaining regional stability, security, and peace. First, territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights Defense diplomacy can help countries concerned in South China Sea disputes, including Indonesia, to protect their territorial sovereignty and sovereign rights. Through diplomacy, neighboring countries and international actors create a platform to build regional cooperation that can strengthen stability in the region and ASEAN countries can work together to resolve differences peacefully and avoid military conflicts and overcome common problems such as illegal fishing and environmental pollution .
Second, reducing tensions and preventing conflict escalation, Indonesia's cooperation with ASEAN can help reduce tensions between neighboring countries involved in the South China Sea dispute. This cooperation paves the way for confidence-building between the countries concerned, thereby reducing tensions and enhancing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and investment. It also allows the countries involved to seek mutually beneficial solutions and prevent further escalation of the conflict, through dialogue and negotiation can also reduce the potential for escalation of military conflicts that could hurt both sides.
Third, open the door to investment and economic development in the region. With increased stability, countries in the region are able to attract foreign investment, build infrastructure, and create jobs, as well as have many positive effects on economic development and people's welfare.
Fourth, through security diplomacy, the countries involved can cooperate in maintaining maritime security, countering illegal activities such as piracy, human trafficking, and narcotics in the South China Sea. Thus, security diplomacy not only reduces the potential for conflict between countries, but also improves security and well-being for the people of the region. All these benefits can be seen in the ongoing efforts made by relevant countries to achieve a peaceful and sustainable solution in the South China Sea to date. Security diplomacy has also assisted in surveillance and law enforcement related to illegal fishing and illegal mining practices in the region. Countries engage together to conduct maritime patrols and share data to reduce illegal exploitation of marine resources, which has a positive impact on the sustainability of marine ecosystems.
Defense diplomacy can also help increase international understanding and awareness of South China Sea disputes. Through open, transparent dialogue and information exchange, countries can understand each other's positions and interests, besides that the international community can also see the positive impact of security diplomacy efforts in creating a balance of power and preventing conflict escalation in this highly sensitive region and working together to find a fair and balanced solution (Hidayatullah, 2018).
2. Benefits of Security Diplomacy for Indonesia
