Lower thirds:

00:05 Report by Georg Matthes
00:47 Admiral Muhammad Ali | Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff
01:26 Georg Matthes | Asia Pacific Bureau Chief
01:58 Arif Havas Oegroseno | Deputy Foreign Minister
02:52 Surya Widya Nugraha | International security expert

Script:

This is Indonesian soft power in full swing. While the Trump administration pulls back from multilateralism, Indonesia is embracing it. No fewer than 38 nations were invited to the so-called Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo , including rival naval forces like China, Russia, and the United States.

The focus of the week-long event in Bali: maritime security and humanitarian assistance. But also thorny issues like the disputed South China Sea.

00:35-00:55 
+++ SOT Admiral Muhammad Ali, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff, : “Our hope is to ease tensions in the South China Sea by shifting the conversation toward humanitarian issues. Humanity should come before conflict. We want to raise global awareness that any future conflict in the South China Sea would have serious consequences for the global economy.”

The Indo-Pacific region has been seeing a growing military build-up in recent times –and the South China Sea is one of the biggest flashpoints. Several countries have rival claims in those waters, which are rish in natural resources and fish. But China claims as its own almost the entire area, which is home to several Indonesian islands.

No surprise then that Indonesia’s new government has made higher defence spending and the modernisation of its military top priorities.

01:26-01:39
+++ Standup Georg: "Indonesia’s message is loud and clear: the Natuna Islands are its territory, no ifs, ands, or buts. But while Jakarta defends its waters, it’s still steering clear of a direct confrontation with China."

Indonesia’s soft diplomacy approach focuses on finding common ground at events like this one, and trying to avoid getting drawn into the power rivalry between China and the United States. On the South China Sea, however, Indonesia and the US are very much on the same page.

01:57-02:22 
+++ SOT Deputy Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno, eng: “The South China Sea is not a vacuum of international law, it’s not a vacuum of regional arrangement, is not a vacuum of bilateral treaties. It’s a place where it has a very substantive detailed legal element of it and I think we all need to use all of these legal instruments as a tool.” A tool to balance different interpretations of the law. Experts say Indonesia’s approach of avoiding direct confrontation might just be the right move when dealing with its powerful neighbour, China. But Jakarta should also be prepared for a scenario in which the US reduces its overseas commitments – giving Beijing the room to tightens its grip on the South China Sea.

02:46-03:09
+++ SOT Surya Widya Nugraha, International Security Expert, Indonesian: “China would definitely take advantage of such a situation or maybe it already has a plan in place. However, China must understand that if it pushes too far, countries in the region will start to feel uneasy. They’ll begin asking: What does China want? Why are they acting this way? Why are they being so aggressive?"

Indonesia is trying to convince China that it will need partners - and that’s exactly what this event is about: working together and sharing experiences…. Like releasing baby turtles into the seaA small but symbolic gesture that embodies Indonesia’s position that the high seas belong to everyone.