Indonesia president warns over super-power tensions in U.N. address.

By Tom Allard
JAKARTA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Indonesia's President Joko
Widodo used his first address to the United Nations General
Assembly to warn on Wednesday that global stability and peace
could be "destroyed" if growing geo-political rivalries persist.
"War will benefit no one. There is no point of celebrating
victory among ruins. There is no point of becoming the largest
economic power in the midst of a sinking world," said the
president, widely known as Jokowi.
His comments came as tensions between the United States and
China escalate, including in the South China Sea.
China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a
position rejected by Washington and some Southeast Asian states,
including Indonesia, citing provisions in the U.N. Convention of
the Law of the Sea.
Earlier this month, Indonesia's government protested when a
Chinese coast guard vessel entered the portion of the South
China Sea it claims. It was the latest of several Chinese
incursions in the past year.
"The principles of the U.N. Charter and international law
are often neglected, including the respect for sovereignty and
territorial integrity," Jokowi told the U.N.
The dangers of U.S.-China tensions was picked up by
Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippines has
competing claims with China in the South China Sea.
"Given the size and military might of the contenders, we can
only imagine and be aghast at the terrible toll on human life
and property that shall be inflicted if the 'word war'
deteriorates into a real war of nuclear weapons and missiles,"
he told the U.N. general assembly.
Jokowi said the coronavirus pandemic was a time for global
unity.
"What we see, instead, is one of deep division and growing
rivalries," he said. "If division and rivalries continue to
persist, then I am concerned that the pillars of stability and
sustainable peace will crumble or even (be) destroyed."
He said that Indonesia would be a "bridge builder" and
advocate for global equality.