Indonesia and Japan have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the maritime sector. The agreement was reached amid tense relations between Indonesia and China recently over the North Natuna Sea issue.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Indonesia and Japan have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the maritime and other sectors in order to create prosperity, peace and stability in the region. In the maritime sector, the two countries will intensify the development of fisheries and marine security facilities, including in the Natuna region.
The agreement was reached in a meeting between Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Jakarta on Friday. The signing of the agreement took place amid the tense relations between Indonesia and China following the entry of Chinese fishing vessels under the escort of the country\'s coast guard ships into Indonesia\'s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea from December 2019 to early 2020. China unilaterally claimed the region as a traditional fishing area.
Toshimitsu saw the cooperation as important because the two countries are both island nations. As part of the realization of the collaboration, the Japanese government and Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) will begin a project to revamp the Integrated Maritime and Fisheries Center (SKPT) in the outer islands of Indonesia in February 2020.
We insist on continuing the collaboration closely.
According to the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the cooperation in the development of the SKPT with Japan will be carried out on the six outer islands of Indonesia, which include Sabang, Aceh; Morotai, Maluku; Saumlaki, Maluku; Moa, Maluku; Biak, Papua; and Natuna, Riau Islands. Japan has also promised to grant fisheries control ships in Natuna.
"Regarding the South China Sea issue, Japan and Indonesia share a serious belief in efforts to try to change the status quo unilaterally with force. We insist on continuing the collaboration closely,” said Toshimitsu.
Foreign Minister Retno welcomed Japan\'s commitment as a key partner in the development of Indonesia\'s priority sectors. "Especially for Natuna, Indonesia hopes that the second phase of SKPT development will be immediately followed up, namely the construction of ports and fish markets, fishermen capacity building, fisheries supervision, tourism development and energy cooperation," she said.
Indonesia and Japan also agreed to strengthen coast guard cooperation, Retno added. This includes capacity building and knowledge exchange on the maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific region.
During his first visit to Indonesia, Toshimitsu also met with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. "We will ensure [efforts] to strengthen cooperation in two fields, namely improving infrastructure and developing human resources as agreed last November. We also agreed to create a framework for reviewing bilateral cooperation projects broadly, including in these fields, "said Toshimitsu.
According to him, Japan will transfer technology in infrastructure and continue the construction of the MRT network in Jakarta and the Patimban Port in West Java. In human resource development, Japan will continue cooperation based on a framework between government and private sector and will also support the development of vocational training and Japanese language education.
Indonesia and Japan also agreed to encourage the resolution of several issues in negotiations related to the review of the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Japan is Indonesia\'s second largest trade and investment partner. From January to September 2019, the value of bilateral trade reached a total of US$23.85 billion. Japan\'s investment value reached 3.24 billion in 2,810 projects.
Supporting ASEAN
Toshimitsu said Japan had three main policy directions as an ASEAN partner, namely human empowerment, institutional improvement and wisdom gathering. For this reason, Japan plans to mobilize $3 billion between 2020 and 2022 from the public and private sectors for economic cooperation.
In addition, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also plans to double its investment and loans to $1.2 billion in the infrastructure sector, women\'s empowerment and green investment, among other sectors.
"Japan also supports ASEAN\'s view of the Indo-Pacific. The ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) has a common vision advocated by Japan in the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) vision, namely the rule of law, freedom of navigation, free trade, connectivity, peace and stability," he said.
Japan also supports ASEAN\'s view of the Indo-Pacific.
The Indo-Pacific is the center of world dynamics with almost half the world\'s population living in the region. The region has become an arena of struggle for influence and power between various world powers, including the US and China.
"These initiatives aim to reciprocate certain countries\' proposals or schemes. So, regarding the South China Sea, China cannot monopolize itself. I think we can work together with all countries, including China, to create an open Indo-Pacific," Toshimitsu said.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi said Japan was the most substantive and comprehensive partner through its contribution in development, peace and prosperity in the region. "Under the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) in 2008, trade between the two parties reached more than $221 billion. Japan is the second largest direct investor in ASEAN," he said