Indonesia to US and China: Don't trap us in your rivalry

JAKARTA - Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi cautioned the United States and China on Tuesday (Sept 8) not to entangle her country in their regional struggle for influence, telling the two superpowers: "We don't want to get trapped by this rivalry." Ms Retno, the chief diplomatic envoy for South-east Asia's largest country, made the comment in an interview with Reuters ahead of a series of key meetings of regional foreign ministers this week, some of which will include their US and China counterparts. Military activity in the South China Sea has increased this year alongside hostile rhetoric and antagonistic policy moves from China and the United States, raising concerns among some South-east Asian states that the risk of armed conflict is rising. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have ratcheted up their diplomacy in the region in an effort to persuade members of Asean to be more sympathetic to their positions. As well as Indonesia, Asean comprises nine other states: Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

from Asia
Read More