Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strongly worded statement against China after Beijing alluded to the area surrounding the Natuna Islands as part of its maritime territory.
An Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries official prepares to conduct security patrols in the Natuna Islands region (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)
In response to a reporter’s question during a regular press conference on 31 December, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang asserted that Beijing maintains sovereignty and jurisdiction over “waters near the Nansha Islands”.
Indonesia has interpreted this reference to include the waters surrounding its Natuna Islands territory, which lies just outside China’s unilaterally declared nine-dashed line demarcation.
The area came into the spotlight recently after Indonesia accused Chinese coast guard, and fishing boats of trespassing into its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around the Natuna Islands.
“Chinese fishermen have long been engaging in fishery activities in relevant waters near the Nansha Islands, which has all along been legal and legitimate”, said Geng during the press conference.
“The China Coast Guard were performing their duty by carrying out routine patrol to maintain maritime order and protect our people's legitimate rights and interests in the relevant waters”, he added.
In response to this, Jakarta described Beijing’s statement as one that is not backed by international law.
“China’s claims within Indonesia’s EEZ, with the excuse that Chinese fishing activities have long taken place in these waters, are unilateral in nature, are illegal, and have never been recognised by UNCLOS 1982”, said Indonesia’s foreign ministry on 1 January in reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The international agreement spells out the rights and responsibilities of UN member countries with regards to the use of the world’s maritime resources.
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