Indonesia: Views on the South China Sea have not changed despite cooperating with China on Covid-19

Indonesian President Joko Widodo during a visit to a military base in the Natuna Islands (Source: Channelnewsasia)

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Indonesia's stance in the South China Sea has not changed despite working with China to test the Covid-19 vaccine.

Indonesia has repeatedly asserted that this country is not a claimant country in the South China Sea, but it has argued with China over fishing rights around the Natuna Islands in the southern part of the disputed waters. Last month, a Chinese coast guard was discovered in the Natuna waters.

When asked if ongoing vaccine development would affect Indonesia's position in disputed waters, she replied: I can say with certainty no. It's two different things and when we work together, it is not unequal cooperation that benefits only Indonesia.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi affirmed: “Chinese and Chinese companies as a country also enjoy the fruits or benefits of this cooperation. That is a two-way benefit ”.

Ms. Marsudi repeatedly said that Indonesia is not a party to the territorial dispute in the South China Sea and that the nine-dashed line map that China used as the basis for its claims in the waters is lacking. international legal basis.

Southeast Asia's largest economy is currently participating in China's late-stage human trial of China's Sinovac Biotech Covid-19, one of the few vaccine candidates in the world that has entered a Phase 3 clinical trial.

Indonesia is also working with Chinese company Sinopharm to ensure that 260 million Indonesians are vaccinated against Covid-19.

NEWS SOURCE:- baoquocte