Indonesian Defense Diplomacy in the Resolution of the South China Sea Conflict

Abstract

The conflict in the South China Sea is increasingly being viewed as serious. Historically, conflicts have started from the contested territory between France and Japan, to the result of the power vacuum of the Second World War. There are no international documents that provide clarity on sovereignty in the South China Sea. China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam are countries that have overlapping territorial claims that currently arise more due to domestic economic, geostrategic and political factors. As a non-claimant country, Indonesia has a role to facilitate and resolve the conflict, because Indonesian waters, the North Natuna Sea, also have territorial claims incised. The alignment of the ZEEI and the Nine Dashes has implications for regional economic and defense arrangements. This article uses qualitative analysis methods to explore three objectives. First, explore historical, philosophical and legal approaches in discussing the background to the conflict. Second, analyzing the attitudes and perspectives of Indonesia's strategic position in the South China Sea. Third, proposing several possible recommendations needed by Indonesia to resolve the South China Sea conflict with the roles and actions needed for international and regional goals. Indonesia as a non-claimant country has a diplomatic role as a mediator, honest broker and trust builder in the handling of the South China Sea conflict. Strategic position in the South China Sea proposes several possible recommendations needed by Indonesia to resolve the South China Sea conflict with the roles and actions required for international and regional goals. Indonesia as a non-claimant country has a defense diplomacy role as a mediator, an intermediary that can build trust in the handling of the South China Sea conflict.