"In addressing South China Sea issues, particularly in defense and security, the government is advocating major project programs to enhance security in the Natuna Sea by ensuring adequate defense equipment and upgrading facilities and infrastructure for integrated military units," he remarked during a discussion on Tuesday (19/3/2024). He pointed out Indonesia's ongoing confrontation with conflict threats in the South China Sea, attributing it to China's unilateral claim over the entire region, including the North Natuna Sea, which falls within Indonesian waters. Consequently, Minister Hadi stressed the continuous reinforcement of Indonesia's defense in Natuna to preempt conflicts arising from maritime territorial disputes. However, he underscored Indonesia's persistent commitment to diplomacy and peaceful negotiations in handling South China Sea disputes. "We aim to finalize the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea within 3 years, by 2025. We hope it will be an effective, substantive, and actionable document to prevent escalation," he said. (mg/inp/pr/nm)