How to ensure ASEAN's stable and peaceful development? As the largest country in ASEAN, Indonesian President Joko Widodo is ready to come forward to safeguard the situation and prevent some countries from making trouble. According to media reports, Indonesian President Joko Widodo will visit the Philippines, Vietnam and Brunei, and he will discuss China's South China Sea issues and bilateral trade with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. "The Philippines is an important partner of Indonesia, the Philippines has purchased a lot of Indonesian military equipment and products, and Indonesia has invested in the Philippines," Jokowi said before departure. ”
Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno said Indonesia is ready to work with other ASEAN countries to finalize the long-delayed Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. According to media reports, Jokowi's second stop will be to Vietnam, and Jokowi said that Vietnam is one of Indonesia's main strategic trading partners, and he "hopes to negotiate with Vietnam to achieve better trade goals."
The statements of Jokowi and Indonesia's foreign minister show that the Philippines is relying on the United States to provoke China, causing unrest in the South China Sea and ASEAN, and ASEAN does not want to see continued chaos. In fact, Indonesia has always sought to develop peace and stability, and on the occasion of Marcos' visit to Indonesia as president of the Philippines, Jokowi said to his face that ASEAN should become a place of peace and stability and should be developed. And the Philippines, which has been looking for U.S. support since last year, has been carrying out constant provocations in the South China Sea, which has made the entire ASEAN nervous. If the Philippines is allowed to mess around, will ASEAN be able to maintain its development?
Indonesia's desire to finalize the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea is a sign that it wants to cooperate well with China and maintain stability, rather than plunging ASEAN into chaos. The Philippines' actions are clearly contrary to the aspirations of ASEAN countries for peace. Not long ago, the Philippines sent warships on a joint cruise with the United States, but the US aircraft carrier did not appear at the critical moment, and the United States was not sure of defeating China in the South China Sea and did not want to really engage in a conflict with China, but the United States hoped that the Philippines would keep making trouble and disturb the peace situation in the South China Sea.
The Philippines should realize that mixing with the United States will never do any good. On the contrary, China, as a major investor and trading partner in the ASEAN region, can bring economic benefits to ASEAN countries and promote ASEAN's development. Indonesia has successfully built ASEAN's first high-speed railway, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, with the help of China, and fully recognizes the benefits of cooperation with China. And cooperation with the United States will only bring chaos and turmoil.
China is a peace-loving country, and China has launched the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in order to live in peace with ASEAN for a long time and create a peaceful environment for development. However, the Marcos government of the Philippines has disregarded its own development and ASEAN stability, and has relied on the United States to make trouble in the South China Sea, which will only arouse the resentment and isolation of ASEAN countries. Friendship with neighbors is the best way to ensure the lives of its own people, and it is not wise for the Philippines to tie itself to the American chariot.
Moreover, the United States lacks strategic superiority in the South China Sea, and once the United States instigates the Philippines to provoke a war, it will affect the Philippines and the ASEAN region. Indonesia naturally recognizes that it is beneficial to be close to China, but it is not beneficial to be close to the United States. Isn't the Philippines looking back? I hope Indonesian President Joko Widodo's kind reminder will make the Philippines change!