ASEAN Summit critical to uphold ASEAN solidarity in era of global uncertainty
ASEAN Summit in Jakarta will be extremely critical for all stakeholders particularly ASEAN members to drive home point on ASEAN solidarity amid major geo-political upheavals including in SE Asia and Indo-Pacific region.
It is imperative for the ASEAN leaders under Indonesia’s presidency to reiterate ASEAN solidarity on key challenges including in the South China Sea region. The ASEAN should be united on matters of Code of Conduct negotiations with China.
Today ASEAN solidarity is much more important than ever before amid uncertainty and fluidity across the globe.
ASEAN has transformed into an influential and highly regarded organisation, both on regional and global scale. Also, ASEAN has become an example of a harmonious community that keeps complementing and strengthening each other.
In a major development ASEAN and China have agreed to complete negotiations on the South China Sea (SCS) code of conduct (CoC) in three years.
However, according to experts China should be sincere in its approach and not change goalposts in between and should not threaten SE Asian states. The guidelines, the first in history, summarize ASEAN-China aspirations to complete the CoC in three years or less, through intensive discussion on pending issues and other proposed working methods to make negotiations faster and more effective.
The CoC is expected to be a code of conduct that reflects international norms, principles, and rules that are in line with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to create a stable, safe, and peaceful South China Sea.
ASEAN should continue to assert on UNCLOS and international law for peaceful resolution SCS region and should not dilute its position. India has
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