Jakarta. Indonesia says ASEAN should remain undivided amidst rising geopolitical tension despite their national interests.

"ASEAN must be solid. We are aware that every country has their own national interests. Especially those who border other countries," Chief Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan told reporters shortly after kicking off the 2023 Jakarta Geopolitical Forum on Wednesday.

“But as [Southeast Asia’s] largest country, coupled with President Jokowi's leadership, I believe we can still show that we are the leader in ASEAN,” Luhut said.

About 41.9 percent of the surveyed Southeast Asians named increased military tensions arising from potential flashpoints such as the South China Sea as the most pressing challenges in the region, according to the 2023 State of Southeast Asia survey. 

The respondents also named climate change (57.1 percent) and economic recession (59.5 percent) as some of the top challenges facing ASEAN. 

Earlier in the day, Indonesia, which is also chairing ASEAN this year, called for member states to establish maritime connectivity. From an economic standpoint, such maritime connectivity can help boost the export-import chain, among others. Luhut added: “Given its unique geographical trait and location along the global trade routes, maritime connectivity is pivotal to Indonesia and ASEAN's economic growth.”

The National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) named sea border disputes as an obstacle to establishing maritime connectivity in Southeast Asia. Lemhannas Governor Andi Widjajanto said that ASEAN nations have made “significant breakthroughs” by adopting the 1982 UNCLOS as a basis to resolve its maritime border issues. 

“Indonesia has negotiated its maritime borders with Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. They have ongoing [negotiations] with Timor Leste. [We have] obtained constructive joint solutions …, and this pattern can serve as a model to resolve maritime border issues in our region,” Andi also told the 2023 Jakarta Geopolitical Forum.

On maritime security, Indonesia relies on the ASEAN Political-Security Community pillar. 

“We can still strengthen our CBM [confidence building measures] mechanisms by boosting operational cooperation such as transparency in defense policies. For instance, by exchanging defense white paper and conducting joint military exercises,” Andi said.

Indonesia has just ended its sea border dispute with fellow ASEAN member Malaysia, particularly on the Sulawesi Sea-Straits of Malacca. Negotiations over this border lasted 18 years.

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