“I am adamant that relations will remain normal as Indonesia has issued a statement that quite clearly explains Indonesia’s position on the matter,” said Luhut at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 13, 2016.
Luhut also made it clear that Indonesia will continue to respect international laws relating to the matter – including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Furthermore, continued Luhut, Indonesia will strive to continue to maintain cordial relations with China. “I believe that we will be able to maintain our friendship with China,” he said.
Luhut also said that he had frequently met with President Joko Widodo and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Retno LP Marsudi, to discuss the on-going tension on the South China Sea – before adding his own stance relating to China’s decision to disregard the ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
“Nations exist side-by-side in the international community – and to maintain order, we have to abide by laws and regulations that governs such affairs,” said Luhut.
On Tuesday, July 12, 2016, PCA issued its’ final ruling on the dispute on the South China Sea – which reject’s China’s use of the Nine-Dash Line as a basis of its’ claim of sovereignty on the disputed maritime territory. – Tempo