In international relations, we study many cases, especially in the scope of countries between countries. International relations is a science that tries to study relations between countries in world reality which includes diplomatic relations between one country and another. Often a country's state tries to win its position over another country. This is because the state tries to fulfill its domestic interests. Because of this, often a country is involved in conflict with other countries, because they try to argue against the reality being debated. These disputes can be in the form of disputes over ownership of intellectual property rights, territorial disputes, culture and so on. All forms of actions or arguments from the state are part of the implementation of a country's international policy, which is in the form of foreign policy. This foreign policy will become the international image of a country. Therefore, most countries try to be cautious in taking foreign policy. Because this image greatly influences other countries to conduct diplomatic relations with the country. Visualization of domestic conditions can be seen in the form of foreign policy taken. Because again that foreign policy is the implementation of a country's domestic needs.
In terms in International Relations there are several theories that are able to analyze the shape of a country's foreign policy, one of which is The great power approach. The great power approach is an analysis that looks at the foreign policy of a large (developed) country will try to influence the foreign policy of a developing country. Where developed countries try to persuade developing countries to follow the interests of developed countries. In this context it has the subject of power in the form of military as well as economic. In the concept of great power theory, major countries will try to increase the capacity of power owned by their countries, to achieve their national interests, also so that the countries under their influence will still follow the will of the great states.
Within the scope of ASEAN, Indonesia can be said to be a great power country, because Indonesia has military strength and also a stable economy compared to other ASEAN countries. ASEAN countries also often follow the direction of Indonesia, especially related to territorial stability, especially related to the South China Sea dispute which involves ASEAN countries.
In mediating disputes between claimant states or countries that claim territory  in the South China Sea, Indonesia tries to use its soft power to minimize conflicts in the South China Sea. The product provided by Indonesian soft power is persuasive diplomacy against claimant states. The concept of Indonesian diplomacy is carried out together with ASEAN as a regional organization in the Southeast Asian region.  In the Southeast Asian region, Indonesia is a country that is quite influential on the political and economic stability of the Southeast Asian region. Of course, this is a point that can be used by Indonesia as a tool to influence Southeast Asian countries to take their international political policies.
The diplomacy carried out by Indonesia is in the form of maintaining and forming a positive image which will be shown to the international world as a manifestation of Indonesia's international politics, namely in the form of active free politics. This active free international politics is a strong milestone for Indonesia as an influential country in Southeast Asia. Indonesia does not take sides or pivot to a major world power, so that the actions taken by Indonesia can be believed to be the implementation of the basis of Indonesia's international policy, not an action based on the influence or interests of the international axis. International trust, especially ASEAN countries, towards Indonesia is the golden key in making decisions and actions taken by Indonesia.
Indonesia as a party that has gained the trust of claimant states, has opened the way for informal interaction with claimant states. The purpose of this foreign policy product is to encourage direct communication, identify issues, and also ease tensions between claimant states. The result of this workshop was an agreement called  the Declaration of the Conduct of the Parties in South China Sea in 2002. For more than 20 years this workshop has been a solution in easing tensions. Until early 2011 tensions regained due to the impact of provocative actions between China, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Indonesia again used  its power to hold the agenda of the ASEAN senior official meeting on 7-11 June 2011 in Surabaya. This agenda is implemented to reduce tensions which will affect the agenda of the ASEAN summit which will be held soon. The agenda was attended by ASEAN countries and dialogue partner countries. The subject of the agenda is persuasive action so that claimant states can adhere to the guidelines, namely  the Declaration On the Conduct of Parties (DOC).The  product launched is also in the form of a discourse to expand the reach of the ASEAN forum so that other countries, especially China, can participate in the discussion forum, which was finally realized with the implementation of the agenda of The 1st Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) in  October 2012, in Manila, Philippines (Sulistiyani, 2021).
Not only at the regional level, Indonesia has succeeded as a regional power country that has entered and is active in international efforts. Namely Indonesia's success in reaching consensus on the settlement of the South China Sea case which must be guided by UNCLOS, more precisely in the form of a peaceful settlement. This success was shared by Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore.
With  this soft power,  Indonesia is also able to prove the inaccuracy of claims given by China to the Natuna Sea. In 2016, the Permanent International Court of Arbitration ruled that China had violated the sovereignty of the Philippines over the South China Sea. This baseless claim cannot be proven because it is very absurd, the Natuna islands are closer to the borders of Vietnam and Malaysia, so the claims made by China are certainly not in accordance with what is in reality. This success can also be seen from Indonesia being able to register ownership of the Natuna Islands to the United Nations, not only that the parties concerned also do not object to the actions taken by Indonesia. Indonesia has succeeded with smooth persuasion and dominance in the South China Sea dispute. This success certainly makes Indonesia's position in a safe situation from the threat of tensions with other countries (Public Relations (2015) Foreign Minister).
