By Stanley Widianto
Chinese Coast Guard Vessel Driven Out of Indonesia’s Waters Again Amid South China Sea Tensions
A Chinese coast guard vessel was forced out of Indonesia’s waters for the second time this week, disrupting a survey by state energy firm Pertamina in the South China Sea, according to Indonesia’s maritime security agency on Thursday.
Recent incidents of Chinese coast guard vessels appearing in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) have escalated following Prabowo Subianto’s assumption of Indonesia’s presidency.
China’s claim of sovereignty over the South China Sea, marked by a controversial “nine-dash line” on its maps, overlaps with the EEZs of Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in 2016 that China’s claim had no legal basis, a ruling Beijing refuses to acknowledge.
These confrontations occurred near Indonesia’s Natuna islands, approximately 1,500 km (932 miles) from China’s Hainan Island. The exact locations have not been disclosed.
The Chinese vessel asserted on Monday that the area fell within China’s jurisdiction, as reported by Indonesia’s maritime security agency, Bakamla.
China’s foreign ministry has not yet commented on the incidents. Bakamla stated on Monday that it would continue patrolling the waters of North Natuna to safeguard Indonesia’s sovereignty during seismic data collection.
On Thursday, the Chinese vessel returned, only to be intercepted and expelled once more. The specific activities of the ship were not detailed.
China supports its sovereignty claim with a fleet of coast guard ships stationed throughout the South China Sea, some of which have been accused by neighboring countries of aggressive behavior and interference with energy and fisheries operations.
China maintains that its coast guard operates within the law to prevent territorial violations in what it considers its waters.
In 2021, Indonesian and Chinese vessels shadowed each other for months near an underwater oil rig conducting appraisals in the Natuna Sea. China called on Indonesia to cease drilling in the area, which it claimed as its territory.
The recent incidents coincide with a meeting between Indonesia’s new defense minister, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and the Chinese ambassador in Jakarta on Thursday.
The defense ministry stated that Sjafrie aims to enhance defense cooperation with China, including joint exercises, without mentioning this week’s maritime clashes.