INDONESIA: POSITION ON THE ISSUE OF THE DISPUTED
TERRITORIES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
Keeping a peaceful and predictable maritime order is an international priority.
Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr.
Good day! I am the diplomatic representative of Indonesia.
Nations have wrangled over disputed territories in the South China Sea prompted by China's
growing assertiveness. It involves maritime issues of different countries. Namely, Brunei,
Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Vietnam. The dispute escalated further when the Natuna
Islands of Indonesia was intruded.
Since early on, Indonesia played as mediator between China and other Asean nation. Our country,
Indonesia has no maritime disputes with Beijing, a non-claimant state in the South China Sea
dispute. However, the tension between Jakarta and Beijing raised when China violated the laws of
the Unclos by a recent fishery dispute.
A Chinese fishing boat was seized for illegally fishing within Indonesia’s exclusive economic
zone and a Chinese coastguard vessel almost intruded into Indonesia’s 12-nautical mile territorial
sea off Natuna Island when they rammed our Indonesian Patrol boat. The United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea an international agreement that defined our limits in terms of
the access in the sea were neglected by the republic of China. Article 51 that pertains to existing
agreements and traditional fishing rights and article 48 that is about Measurement of the breadth
of the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone was also violated.
The territorial disputes in the South China Sea place Indonesia's interests of security of resources
and sanctity of UNCLOS at stake. The security of the Natuna Islands is Indonesia's immediate
concern in the South China Sea. Hence, Indonesia has renamed the northern reaches of its
exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea as the North Natuna Sea, the latest act of
resistance to China's territorial ambitions in the maritime region, a countermeasure to protect its
interest.
Jakarta is seeking to ensure all government bodies are clear on the country’s stance, with the
upcoming verdict by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration on the Philippines’ case
against China.
The immediate partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia will start an integration of
maritime infrastructure. This will pave the way for setting up a joint patrol between both countries.
China has no legal basis to claim the waters surrounding the Natuna Island. This aside, Indonesia
will maintain its sole ownership over the Natuna islands and exclusive fishing and exploration
rights over the waters surrounding the island leading to the 9 Dash line. Recognizing the dispute,
Indonesia will stand our ground in order to obtain our goal to maintain control over the Natuna Island
and over the economic zone and waters surrounding it. Indonesia’s position on the South China
Sea will share no overlapping territorial waters with China, it’ll remain a non-claimant state. As
the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, peace and balance is still our top priority. Primarily
focused on protecting Indonesia’s own interests around the Natuna Islands. Jakarta will refrain
from taking firmer steps to confront Beijing because of the Jokowi government’s desire to preserve
cooperation in other areas. If further issues will escalate, Indonesia will take a stance not to tolerate
this anymore.
