Did Indonesia Support U.S. Criticism of Beijing’s Actions in South China Sea?

File image of a 2022 meeting between U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (R) and his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto in 2022. Image: Adek Berry / AFP

An interesting dispute has emerged from U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s meeting with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto last week.

According to the Pentagon readout from the joint press conference following the meeting, they committed to working together for regional stability and “[t]hey shared the view that the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea are inconsistent with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Cobus van Staden

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
4
Chinese-Moroccan Joint Venture Inaugurates EV Battery Parts Plant
5
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity
6
Rubio to Welcome Asian ‘Quad’ Back to Washington

You Might Like

China, U.S. Compete in Military Cooperation With South China Sea Countries As Tension Simmers

This week it was confirmed that the U.S. and Japan will conduct joint exercises in the South China Sea with the Philippines. This comes as duels between Chinese vessels and counterparts from around the ...

South China Sea Ruling Anniversary Adds Pressure to ASEAN Gatherings

Protests in Manila this week marked the seventh anniversary of a Permanent Court of Arbitration tribunal’s finding in favor of a Philippine claim over a stretch of the South China Sea also claimed ...

New Philippine Military Head Signals China Focus

The Philippine government announced that its new military chief will be Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., the former head of its army. Brawner’s appointment seems to strengthen the Marcos administration’s hardening towards China in ...

Tensions Flare in South China Sea Following China’s Use of Water Cannon Against Unarmed Philippine Navy Supply Boat

The Philippine military condemned the Chinese Coast Guard’s use of a water cannon against a much smaller unarmed supply boat that took place in disputed waters in the South China Sea on Saturday. ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP