In light of heightened geopolitical tensions, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo said on Friday that ASEAN countries cannot be proxies for other countries, such as the US or China.

On the occasion of the 24th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia, host Widodo told ministers that the ten-member bloc "cannot be a competition, it can't be a proxy of any country, and international law should be respected consistently."

"We in ASEAN are committed to strengthening the unity and solidity as well as centrality in ASEAN to guard the peace and stability in the region."  

Ministers were holding talks about the disputed South China Sea and the crisis in Myanmar, one of the members of the bloc. But over accusations of its inability to carry out the peace plan, it is no longer allowed to participate in high-level summits.

Read more: Indonesia's President says 'no real progress' on Myanmar peace plan

While some have backed the US over certain issues, particularly over issues pertaining to the waterway in the South China Sea, others have backed Beijing.

Amid ongoing provocations on the part of the US to dismantle China's unity and trigger a global trade war against Beijing, tensions have been on the rise lately. 

Both the US and China had representatives attend the Jakarta meetings, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issuing warnings to China over an alleged cybersecurity breach. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Blinken that the US should not meddle with China's internal affairs and "work with" Beijing to improve diplomatic relations.

Read more: ASEAN ministers urge Myanmar junta to implement agreed peace plan