Indonesia Agrees to Work With China to Safeguard Regional Peace

World Today

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken with his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa. They exchanged views on China’s current tensions with Vietnam in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the Turkistan Islamic Party, an Islamist militant group, has claimed responsibility for a fatal attack at a train station in China’s western city of Urumqi in late April. CCTV’s Yin Hang reports.

Indonesia Agrees to Work with China Safeguard Regional Peace

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spoken with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa. They exchanged views on China's current tensions with Vietnam in the South China Sea. Also, an Islamist militant group - called the Turkistan Islamic Party - claimed responsibility for a fatal attack at a train station in China's western city of Urumqi in late April. CCTV's Yin Hang has more details

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi briefed Natalegawa on the maritime friction between China and Vietnam, emphasizing a Chinese enterprise was carrying out normal oil drilling activities there 10 years ago. Wang also reiterated China’s stance on its sovereignty over the South China Sea, urging Vietnam to stop violent actions to disrupt the drilling process. He also hoped the ASEAN Countries will work with China to maintain regional peace and stability.

Natalegawa said Indonesia takes no side on the sovereignty issue of the South China Sea, and is willing to work with China to safeguard regional peace and stability in the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying also made comments on Wang Yi’s conversation with Natalegawa. “Currently China and Vietnam are conducting necessary communication on the issue. We urge Vietnam to calm down, respect China’s sovereignty and jurisdiction, and refrain from further complicating and exacerbating the situation.”

China says Vietnam sent 36 vessels, including warships, to harass a Chinese oil rig’s drilling operations, and they deliberately rammed Chinese boats more than 170 times.