On November 11, Indonesia reaffirmed that it does not recognize China’s claims over the South China Sea, even after signing a maritime cooperation agreement with Beijing.
This move has sparked concerns among analysts, who warn that the agreement could undermine Indonesia’s regional sovereign rights.
Read also: Philippines and South Korea Strengthen Maritime Ties Amid South China Sea Tensions
Long-standing Dispute Over South China Sea
China has been in a prolonged dispute with several Southeast Asian nations over its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Using the "nine-dash line" on an old map, Beijing claims almost the entirety of the sea, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of neighboring countries, including Indonesia.
However, Jakarta has consistently maintained that it is not a claimant state in the South China Sea dispute and does not have overlapping jurisdictions with China.
In 2016, an international tribunal ruled that China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis. Despite this, China has refused to acknowledge the ruling.
Recently, during President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Beijing, both nations issued a joint statement, agreeing on joint development in areas with overlapping claims. Nevertheless, Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that this agreement does not affect the country's sovereign rights, especially in the North Natuna Sea.
Maintaining Sovereignty Amidst Economic Cooperation
While the Indonesian government stated that the agreement primarily focuses on fisheries and conservation, aiming to promote peace and friendship, several experts expressed concern.
Maritime analyst Aristyo Rizka Darmawan cautioned that the agreement might be interpreted as Indonesia recognizing the existence of overlapping claims. This could potentially weaken Indonesia's sovereign rights to manage resources within its EEZ. He suggested that Indonesia might have entered into this agreement to boost economic ties with China.
Read also: Philippines, Viet Nam to Build Defense Partnership in South China Sea Disputes
Concerns Over National Interests
Dr. Klaus Heinrich Raditio, an expert on Chinese politics, emphasized that Indonesia has never had overlapping claims with China in the first place.
He argued that including a clause about overlapping claims in the joint statement could jeopardize Indonesia’s national interests. However, he noted that there remains a possibility to renegotiate the terms of the agreement.
A Controversial Maritime Agreement
In conclusion, while Indonesia strives to uphold its sovereignty in the North Natuna Sea, the recent maritime agreement with China remains a contentious issue.
Although the government asserts that the deal will not compromise national sovereignty, some observers worry that it could impact Indonesia’s rights over the strategic waters.
