Indonesia Foreign Policy : The Long Tale of the South China Sea Dispute

Yogyakarta,2023 - The South China Sea conflict has been a heated and complex geopolitical issue since the 1940s. This conflict involves several countries, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, and has sparked numerous military incidents and diplomatic tensions. However, to fully comprehend this conflict, we must delve deeper into the strategic and economic interest that underlie these sovereignty claims. The South China Sea is a region of immense strategic and economic significance. Spanning approximately 4 million square kilometers, this region encompasses numerous islands, reefs, and waters teeming with natural resources. Furthermore, the South China Sea is a crucial international shipping route, facilitating global trade and impacting the economies of many nations. China, one of the world's largest oil importers, has a vested interest in the South China Sea's oil reserves. With its rapidly growing economy, China requires a steady supply of oil and natural gas to sustain its growth. Consequently, China cannot afford to overlook the South China Sea conflict and has striven to assert its sovereignty claims in this region. However, other countries in the region also have their own claims and hold strong economic and political stakes in the South China Sea's resources. For instance, Vietnam and the Philippines also assert sovereignty over the Spratly and Paracel Islands, which are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas. Malaysia and Brunei, too, have their own claims, based on various factors such as geographical proximity and international law. This conflict becomes increasingly complicated due to the involvement of various economic and political interests. The abundance of natural resources, such as oil, natural gas, and fishery resources, makes the South China Sea a highly coveted region. Additionally, the South China Sea's position as a vital international shipping route further complicates this conflict. In response to this conflict, countries in the region have attempted various approaches to seek a resolution. For example, ASEAN has endeavored to play a significant role in resolving this dispute. In 1992, ASEAN issued the ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in this region. In 2002, ASEAN and China reached an agreement in the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, underscoring the need for peaceful resolution through dialogue and negotiation. these efforts, the South China Sea conflict is far from being resolved. The conflicting economic and political interests, along with overlapping sovereignty claims, make resolving this conflict a major challenge. Therefore, it is crucial for the countries in this region to continue seeking peaceful and fair solutions through dialogue and regional cooperation. To expand this article to 1000 words, we can further discuss the historical background of the South China Sea conflict, the specific territorial disputes among the countries involved, and the potential consequences of the conflict on the region and the international community. The South China Sea conflict traces its roots back to the 1940s, when various countries started making territorial claims in the region. China claims historical rights over most of the South China Sea based on the "nine-dash line" map, which was first published by the Republic of China in 1947. This map encompasses a large portion of the South China Sea, including the Spratly and Paracel Islands. However, other countries, such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, also claim sovereignty over parts of the South China Sea based on different historical, geographical, and legal grounds. The Spratly Islands, located in the southern part of the South China Sea, have been a major point of contention among the claimant countries.