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Indonesia to Bring Back ASEAN Centrality, Expert Says
Jakarta, Kominfo Newsroom – Gadjah Mada University's (UGM) international relations expert Randy Wirasta Nandyatama, Ph.D. said Indonesia wanted to restore the centrality of ASEAN as a forum to solve the regional problems.
"Indonesia wants to bring back ASEAN centrality at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara on 9--11 May 2023. It seems that ASEAN centrality is starting to fade," Randy said in Surabaya on Sunday, 16 April.
The ASEAN centrality claim can arise in the South China Sea dispute settlement. It is because ASEAN is considered less intense in recent times.
"In the ASEAN Summit, Indonesia wants to encourage or take further steps to settle the South China Sea dispute. Indonesia can be a facilitator. ASEAN can be a facilitator for the South China Sea dispute settlement," said Randy who is also the secretary of UGM's International Relations Department.
ASEAN, according to him, is no longer central as it is driven by two things. The first is China's and the United States' powers.
"Second, countries that used to utilize ASEAN as a forum to communicate with each other now use other cooperation fora outside ASEAN," said Randy.
According to him, ASEAN should be able to show its ability as a forum to resolve regional issues. Therefore, Indonesia wants to encourage a Code of Conduct (COC) or Declaration on the Conduct of Partners in the South China Sea.
In addition, Indonesia needs to be active in resolving the crisis in Myanmar to bring back ASEAN centrality. This is because ASEAN has been considered a friendly and effective forum for everyone.
"Discussion about Myanmar is rising everywhere so ASEAN has to play a role. ASEAN has already done that by making five points of consensus. I think it's a little difficult. This appears to be related to the ASEAN chairmanship itself," he said.
He saw that the five points of consensus has not been honored. Randy pointed out there is a certain degree of a simpler way, for example, humanitarian aid. This has become Indonesia's challenge.
"Honestly, we cannot solve the Myanmar crisis in one year but Indonesia can encourage Myanmar to show good faith because there has been none. Giving access to humanitarian aid is an example. That is difficult," he said. (Willi Irawan/Elvira/TR)
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Photo caption: Delegates from ASEAN countries attended Indonesia's 2023 ASEAN Chairmanship Seminar Gala at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Badung, Bali, Wednesday, 29 March 2023. Photo: Antara
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