11-11-2024 (JAKARTA) Indonesia has moved swiftly to reaffirm its position on South China Sea territorial claims following a controversial maritime development agreement with China, emphasising that it does not recognise Beijing’s sweeping assertions in the disputed waters.
The clarification comes after a joint statement released during President Prabowo Subianto’s Beijing visit referenced “important common understanding on joint development in areas of overlapping claims”, triggering concern among maritime experts and analysts.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry issued a firm statement on Monday, emphasising that the nation maintains its status as a non-claimant state in the South China Sea dispute. “Indonesia reiterates its position that those [Chinese] claims have no international legal basis”, the ministry declared, adding that the new partnership would not affect Indonesia’s sovereign rights in the North Natuna Sea.
The controversy centres on China’s “nine-dash line” claim, which encompasses nearly the entire South China Sea and extends into Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). This claim was invalidated by an international tribunal in 2016, though Beijing continues to reject this ruling.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian defended the agreement, suggesting it reflected “political consensus” between both nations and cited “historical basis” for China’s territorial claims. The spokesman indicated that both countries would explore various modes of cooperation under the new framework.
However, the agreement has drawn sharp criticism from Indonesian maritime experts. Aristyo Rizka Darmawan, a prominent maritime analyst, warned that the joint statement’s wording could be interpreted as tacit recognition of overlapping claims, potentially compromising Indonesia’s sovereign rights within its EEZ.
Klaus Heinrich Raditio, an expert in Chinese politics, described the clause’s inclusion as “inappropriate”, noting that Indonesia has never acknowledged any overlapping claims with China. He suggested the agreement could jeopardise national interests but noted the possibility of renegotiation.
The waters in question, particularly around Indonesia’s Natuna islands, lie more than 1,000 kilometres south of China’s Hainan island. The area has become increasingly contentious as China maintains a significant coast guard presence throughout the region, leading to accusations of aggressive behaviour from neighbouring states.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry attempted to downplay concerns, characterising the agreement as primarily focused on fisheries and fish conservation. Officials expressed hope that the accord could serve as a model for maintaining regional peace and friendship.
