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Southeast Asia
Indonesia reveals frustration with Singapore over delay in Asean adopting President Joko Widodo’s Indo-Pacific concept
donesia
has subtly revealed its frustration with Singapore over stalled efforts to get Asean nations to declare a common vision for the Indo-Pacific region.
An unnamed Indonesian diplomat told the The Jakarta Post that plans for Asean countries to sign off on the
Indo-Pacific concept
at this month’s Asean summit in Bangkok could be delayed as Singapore has not endorsed it.
“[Singapore] argued that this concept still needed further discussion, but when asked what the issue in question was, the answer was unclear, even though it’s been discussed for over a year,” the diplomat, who requested anonymity, was quoted as saying on Thursday.
The term Indo-Pacific – referring to the region between India and the Pacific Coast of the United States – has been used in recent years by both Japanese and US officials trying to boost economic and security ties with countries in the region amid China’s expanding influence.
But Indonesia has in the last two years lobbied the other nine Asean members to have their own regional vision, noting that the objectives would not be new but would signal enhanced cooperation.
Indonesia reveals frustration with Singapore over delay in Asean adopting President Joko Widodo’s Indo-Pacific concept
donesia
has subtly revealed its frustration with Singapore over stalled efforts to get Asean nations to declare a common vision for the Indo-Pacific region.
An unnamed Indonesian diplomat told the The Jakarta Post that plans for Asean countries to sign off on the
Indo-Pacific concept
at this month’s Asean summit in Bangkok could be delayed as Singapore has not endorsed it.
“[Singapore] argued that this concept still needed further discussion, but when asked what the issue in question was, the answer was unclear, even though it’s been discussed for over a year,” the diplomat, who requested anonymity, was quoted as saying on Thursday.
The term Indo-Pacific – referring to the region between India and the Pacific Coast of the United States – has been used in recent years by both Japanese and US officials trying to boost economic and security ties with countries in the region amid China’s expanding influence.
But Indonesia has in the last two years lobbied the other nine Asean members to have their own regional vision, noting that the objectives would not be new but would signal enhanced cooperation.
