Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Indonesian government underscores that the South China Sea should be maintained as a stable and peaceful sea.

The statement was confirmed by the Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a meeting with her U.S counterpart, Michael R Pompeo, in Jakarta on Thursday.

In a press statement, Foreign Minister Retno stressed that international law, especially UNCLOS 1982, should be respected and implemented.

UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea) is a convention, sometimes referred to as the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty which came into operation and became effective from November 16, 1982.

UNCLOS defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.

"Therefore, any claims should be based on universally recognized principles of international law including UNCLOS 1982," FM Retno said.

Pompeo's visit to Indonesia is part of a series of his trip on October 25-30, 2020, to four countries, including India, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Reporting by Indonesia Window