Hanoi and Jakarta have shared the same stance on dealing with issues in the South China Sea amid Beijing’s continued aggression. 
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. Photo: MOFA
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Both top diplomats agreed to boost the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership in all fields, including maritime cooperation, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
The two sides stressed importance of solving the issues related to the South China Sea where Vietnam and Indonesia, together with China and several other countries, have territorial claims.
The ministers also highlighted the importance of solidarity in ASEAN and the bloc’s role in solving the issues, noting that involved parties need to comply with international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to maintain peace and stability, and reinforce mutual trust among countries.
Vietnam and Indonesia had stressed the maritime cooperation when Pham and Marsudi met in Bangkok in June.
In June, the two countries held the first defense dialogue as part of efforts to strengthening their relations and partnership in the course of escalating tensions in SCS.
The two countries also agreed to end force on fishers of either country in humane spirit as their purpose is simply making a living.
The two countries are now in the midst of boundary negotiations which would have a direct impact on how these sorts of incidents are managed. If Indonesia and Vietnam can make clear advances on some measures they have already discussed, whether it be on boundary negotiations or coordination among their various forces, these measures can at least help them better manage incidents, an Indian expert has told The Diplomat.
