Jakarta will ‘spare no effort’ in uniting Asean: Indonesian foreign minister

SINGAPORE — Indonesia’s foreign policy under President Joko Widodo has been one of activism despite some observers suggesting when he first took power that the leader would be more inward looking, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Friday morning (Feb 10).

Speaking during a S Rajaratnam School of International Studies Distinguished Public Lecture titled “Indonesia’s Foreign Policy under the Jokowi Administration”, Ms Marsudi claimed that Indonesia has sought to play a leading role in various regional matters since October 2014, when Mr Widodo assumed office.

Noting that one of Indonesia’s key foreign policy priorities is to “strengthen Indonesia’s role in the region and the world”, Ms Marsudi said that the basic premise of her country’s foreign policy is to contribute towards the attainment of peace, stability, and prosperity.

She said Indonesia’s contribution towards this has been especially clear in two areas: Its involvement in the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) and Myanmar’s restive Rakhine state.

“Asean remains the cornerstone of Indonesian foreign policy,” Ms Marsudi said in the address held at the Pan Pacific Singapore, belying claims by some commentators that Indonesia is turning away from the 10-nation entity that promotes political and economic integration in the region.

She said that Indonesia has “spared no effort” in advancing Asean unity and centrality, adding that the country has always played a “leading role” in uniting Asean, and will continue to do so. For instance, Indonesia initiated the joint statement on the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region during an Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Laos in July 2016.

Ms Marsudi also said that Indonesia will be “at the forefront … in preserving peace and stability in the region, including the South China Sea”.

To that end, Indonesia will host a meeting that covers the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, as well as negotiation on the Code of Conduct, said the Foreign Minister.

Unlike some of its South-east Asian neighbours, Jakarta has long maintained it has no maritime disputes with Beijing in the resource-rich South China Sea, and does not contest ownership of reefs or islets there.

Commenting on the plight of the Rohingya in Rakhine state, Ms Marsudi said Indonesia has actively helped Myanmar to address the issue.

She noted that she recently discussed the Rohingya issue with United Nations (UN) officials in Myanmar and neighbouring Bangladesh, adding that Jakarta would continue to engage with Naypyidaw on the matter.

In terms of material assistance, Indonesia has sent over 10 containers of food and clothing to Rakhine. In addition, Jakarta has built in the state six schools that are not only open to Muslims but also people of other faiths, Ms Marsudi noted. Indonesia has also helped with the setting up of mobile clinics and a hospital in Rakhine, she said.

At least 86 people have been killed in Rakhine and an estimated 66,000 have fled into neighbouring Bangladesh since nine Myanmar policemen were killed on Oct 9 last year in attacks on border posts, which the Myanmar government blamed on Rohingya supported by foreign militants.

In the initial stages of Mr Widodo’s presidency, the emphasis on “pro-people diplomacy”, as evident in the increased attention to the migrant worker issue, had prompted questions by analysts on whether the country was abandoning its international roles.

Given its active participation in various regional and international matters, Ms Marsudi observed that Indonesia’s foreign policy is “anything but inward looking”.

Other issues she touched on during her lecture include Indonesia’s economic diplomacy under Mr Widodo, the country sharing its experience in democracy with others, as well as its contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts. WITH AGENCIES