OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUÉ

South China Sea Council (SCSC)

On the Escalation of Conflict Involving Iran, Israel, and the United States

Date: 29 March 2026

The South China Sea Council (SCSC) expresses its profound concern over the escalating military confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which has now exceeded the bounds of a regional conflict and poses significant risks to global stability, energy security, and the continuity of international trade routes.

In light of these developments, SCSC calls upon all parties involved to undertake immediate and concrete steps toward a phased mutual stand down. This must begin with the cessation of offensive military operations, including airstrikes, missile deployments, and any actions that risk widening the conflict into additional theaters. While de-escalation requires reciprocal commitment, SCSC underscores that the initial momentum is critically dependent on decisive steps by the initiating actors—namely the United States and Israel—to move toward an immediate pause of conflict as a foundation for broader de-escalation.

SCSC further emphasizes that the resolution of this crisis cannot be monopolized by any single geopolitical bloc. It therefore calls upon influential Asian nations to assume a constructive and proactive role, working jointly with Gulf states and Iran to establish a credible pathway toward de-escalation. Such engagement is essential to fostering dialogue, building trust, and achieving a sustainable reduction in tensions grounded in shared regional interests.

In this regard, SCSC specifically calls upon Indonesia to take more active and strategic role in engaging all parties to end the conflict. As a nation with a long-standing commitment to non-alignment, diplomatic engagement, and regional stability, Indonesia is well-positioned to undertake outreach to all conflicting actors and to offer its good offices in facilitating a comprehensive and balanced resolution. SCSC encourages Indonesia to leverage its diplomatic credibility to promote dialogue, bridge differences, and contribute to a peaceful settlement that addresses both immediate tensions and underlying causes of the conflict.

In parallel, SCSC urges European nations to consider a calibrated and phased easing of sanctions on Iran. This approach should be reciprocated by clear commitments from Iran to ensure the security of the Strait of Hormuz, maintain stability across the Gulf region, and guarantee the uninterrupted flow of international maritime navigation. A reciprocal framework of this nature offers a pragmatic pathway to reducing tensions while safeguarding both economic and security interests at the global level.

To reinforce de-escalation efforts, SCSC calls on the United Nations to initiate the deployment of peacekeeping forces in affected areas. Such a presence would serve to monitor ceasefire arrangements, prevent further escalation, and help secure critical infrastructure and strategic maritime corridors.

SCSC reiterates that lasting international stability can only be achieved through restraint, adherence to international law, and inclusive multilateral cooperation. At this critical juncture, all parties must prioritize global stability over short-term strategic gains in order to avert broader and more severe consequences for international peace and security.

South China Sea Council (SCSC)

For Stability, De-escalation, and Shared Security