Indonesia Intensifies Presence on Natuna Sea

KOMPAS/EDNA CAROLINE PATTISINA

The KRI Teuku Umar and KRI Tjiptadi warships are prepared for deployment in the TNI (Indonesian Military) Sea Combat Alert operation, which is to be reinforced by air power. A military briefing was held and led by the chief of the Joint Defense Territory Command (Kogabwilhan), Vice Adm. Yudo Margono in Natuna on Friday (3/1/2020).

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has affirmed there will be no compromise over the sovereign right of Indonesia in the North Natuna Exclusive Economic Zone. Indonesia will further intensify its presence in this zone.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — In the face of the entry by Chinese fishing and government vessels into the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Indonesia in the North Natuna Sea, the Indonesian government is assuming a firm noncompromise stance. Indonesia will also prioritize law enforcement and an approach that increases its presence with patrol and fishing vessels.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has emphasized that the Indonesian government will not compromise with China over the territorial border in Natuna waters around the Riau archipelago. “I think all the statements made [by government officials] have been very appropriate, that there will be no bargaining about sovereignty, about our territory,” said President Jokowi at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday (6/1/2020).

On Sunday they were about 240 kilometers east of Ranai, Natuna regency.

Until yesterday Chinese fishing boats, coast guard and fishery control vessels were still in the Indonesian EEZ on the North Natuna Sea. On Sunday they were about 240 kilometers east of Ranai, Natuna regency.

The EEZ covers waters within a 320-km distance from the outermost shoreline. In this zone Indonesia reserves its sovereign rights. Natural resources in the EEZ are exclusively meant to be processed by the coastal country to which the EEZ belongs. The area within a 19.3-km distance from the outermost shoreline constitutes territorial sea, the region of state sovereignty.

Five Indonesian warships (KRI) have been deployed to demand that the Chinese vessels leave the North Natuna Sea.

KOMPAS/EDNA CAROLINE PATTISINA

Two smaller warships are maneuvering with Chinese Coast Guard vessels in Indonesian continental waters on Saturday (4/1/2020). The activity was monitored from the Air Force\'s strategic reconnaissance aircraft.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief spokesman Maj. Gen. Sisriadi said the TNI would not yield to the provocation of Chinese coast guard vessels. According to him, they expect Indonesia to violate international law. “We won’t be trapped by China’s provocation. If this happens, we will breach international law, which will be to our disadvantage,” he said.

Fishermen’s support

About 120 fishermen from the northern coastal region met with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD in Jakarta. After the meeting, chairman of the All Indonesia Fishermen’s Association, Tegal Branch, Central Java, Riswanto, said northern coast fishermen were ready to depart for the North Natuna Sea.

This happened because Indonesian fishermen faced some constraints related to time, cost and a fairly big risk.

Riswanto said so far there had been a vacuum of Indonesian fishermen in the North Natuna Sea, allowing Chinese fishing and government vessels to enter the zone. This happened because Indonesian fishermen faced some constraints related to time, cost and a fairly big risk.

“Every time we sail to Natuna, it takes two to three months at a cost of about Rp 500 million. The risk is very big and we won’t brave it there without proper licensing and security arrangements,” he said.

According to Riswanto, northern coast fishermen would coordinate further regarding the number of vessels and fishermen to be sailing to Natuna.

Meanwhile, Mahfud said the government would mobilize fishermen from several regions to fill the vacuum in the North Natuna Sea. “We will be mobilizing fishermen from the northern coast and perhaps in turn from other regions to explore the marine wealth there,” he added.

Even companies already securing gas exploitation concessions should be asked to promptly execute their plans.

A professor of international law from the University of Indonesia, Hikmahanto Juwana, also encouraged more noticeable Indonesian economic activity in the North Natuna Sea. Indonesian fishermen should be given facilities for their fishing operation in the waters. “Even companies already securing gas exploitation concessions should be asked to promptly execute their plans,” said Hikmahanto.

He warned the Indonesian government against negotiating with the Chinese government. If necessary, he said, President Jokowi should even repeat Indonesia’s firm gesture of 2016 by convening a Cabinet meeting aboard the KRI in North Natuna.

Normalizing patrols

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investments Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said foreign boats poaching fish in Natuna waters, part of the Indonesian EEZ, would be arrested and held, as has already been done.

Besides, the Indonesian government would deal with the Chinese vessels in the North Natuna Sea using Indonesia’s coast guard, the Marine Security Agency.

“We want to normalize patrols so as to be more proportional. We, once again, want no war because no conflict occurs there. So, what’s war for? We just increase the proportion of patrols,” he said.

In a press statement in Jakarta, the chairman of the central board of Nahdlatul Ulama, Said Aqil Siroj, insisted that the Chinese government should halt the provocative actions against Indonesian sovereignty over the waters as this was already recognized and established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982.

Nahdlatul Ulama supports the firm stance of the Indonesian government toward China, including the ejection and drowning of foreign vessels engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF) activity in Indonesian waters.

In the meantime, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said that, in principle, Indonesia and all countries in the world should abide by the UNCLOS.

In the meantime, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said that, in principle, Indonesia and all countries in the world should abide by the UNCLOS. The Indonesian EEZ also refers to the UNCLOS. In this way, China as a member of the UN should also observe and respect the rules of the game.  (INA/LAS/EDN/INK/DVD)