REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING -- China and the United States should exercise restraint and not by resort to provocative actions, to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, former Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
"I hope China and the United States can avoid errors that can potentially create tensions and trigger conflicts in the region," Yudhyono told Antara here on Monday.
The sixth Indonesian president pointed out that the two countries should exercise restraint if they cannot settle their conflicts by upholding the spirit of participating in dialogues, cooperation, and partnership.
Yudhoyono visited Beijing as an honorary speaker at the World Peace Forum, which was held on June 27 and 28.
The forum was attended by high-level officers, practitioners, analysts, and international security specialists from various countries.
Yudhoyono further noted that China and the United States were countries with great influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
"China has risen as the second-largest economic power of the world, supported by a strong, massive, and modern military. In addition, the United States has had an abundance of resources for a long time and played a role and gathered influence in the Asia-Pacific region in both the economic and military sectors," Yudhoyono explained.
The dynamic relationship between China and the United States is expected to steer clear of crisis and conflicts in the region, bearing in mind their partnership based on respect and equality, the former president emphasized.
Tensions between the two nations have been rising since China conducted a flight test of the hypersonic Wu-14 variety of jets as a sign of Beijing's protest against the interference of the United States in the South China Sea conflict.
Moreover, the United States considered the flight test an extreme move amid the rising tensions of the South China Sea conflict.
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