Chinese Ship in Indonesian Islands Spotlights South China Sea Dispute

A docked Chinese Coast Guard ship (Wikimedia Commons).

Responding to reports that a Chinese coast guard vessel entered the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Indonesia off of Natuna Island, the Chinese government denied having undertaken such action. The Chinese coast guard vessel allegedly refused to leave the territory until the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) intervened and  forcefully drove  them away. Although not officially an actor in the South China Sea dispute, Indonesia and its Natuna Islands have become a source of notable conflict with China, who has claimed the archipelago for itself in accordance with the nine-dash line territorial claim.

In response, Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement “steadfastly refusing” the nine-dash line as a legitimate territorial claim. Referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated  Indonesian sovereignty over the Natuna Islands . Despite the 2016 ruling against China’s nine-dash line claim, which encompasses large swaths of the South China Sea, Chinese vessels have continued to encroach on the territorial waters of Indonesia and other Southeast Asian nations. 

The Natuna Island archipelago consists of  272 islands and hosts several  fisheries and expansive natural gas deposits. In an attempt to assert its authority over the region, Chinese coast guard vessels and fishing boats have begun to enter the territory far more frequently. 

In January 2020, after a similar incident of Chinese vessels illegally encroaching on the Natuna Islands,  Indonesia stationed four fighter jets and several warships to protect the region. This, along with the recent chasing away of another Chinese vessel, indicates decreasing Indonesian tolerance of China blatantly disregarding their sovereignty. 

These maritime disputes notwithstanding, relations between Indonesia and China remain strong. With China providing Indonesia medical aid during the COVID-19 pandemic no less than twice, and with its position as the island-nation’s second largest investor, Indonesia cannot afford an overtly aggressive stance against the rising superpower. Under China’s Belt & Road Initiative, Indonesia has seen the development of multiple projects that have significantly boosted its economic growth. Particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, any Indonesian response to the South China Sea disputes must remain mindful of their economic dependency on China. 

This situation all comes as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has requested that ASEAN leaders reconsider their relations with blacklisted Chinese companies who “bully” smaller states which have made claims in the South China Sea. With pressure mounting on all parties involved, countries like Indonesia find themselves having to strike a delicate balance between maintaining close relations with China and asserting national sovereignty in the South China Sea.