The Indonesian Maritime Safety Agency revealed that during the period of December 19 to 24 last year, 63 Chinese fishing vessels broke into the exclusive economic zone of the Indonesian Nutana Islands (Exclusive EconomicZone, referred to as eez for short).They reject the requirements of the Maritime Safety Bureau, refuse to leave, and insist that they are fishing in their leading sea.The Maritime Security Agency cannot do anything except the invasion of relevant Indonesia departments.
On December 30, after the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs negotiated with various departments, she proposed a protest photo, saying that the Indonesian EEZ had illegal acts, including illegal, unprecedented, unavailable fishing activities, and the infringement of the sovereignty in the Naita waters in the Nalana waters.EssenceThe Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chinese ambassador to Indonesia, Xiao Qian, and expressed strong protests.
At a regular press conference on December 31st, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Geng Shuang, responded to Indonesia's protest: China has sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, and has sovereignty and jurisdiction on the sea area of the Nansha Islands.At the same time, China has historic rights in the South China Sea.Chinese fishermen have carried out normal fishery production activities in the Nansha Islands in China, which is legal and reasonable.The Chinese maritime police ship carried out normalized patrol management in the relevant seas in accordance with its own responsibilities, maintaining the order of maritime, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the people of the country.The Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia has reiterated from Indonesia to the Chinese side's consistent position.
Geng Shuang added: China is willing to properly control the differences and control through bilateral dialogue with Indonesia to jointly maintain the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries and the current peace and stability of the South China Sea.
Indonesia refute China's response
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted China's response on January 1 this year, and pointed out that there is no legal basis for China's historical rights to have historical rights to EEZ around the Naita Islands, because according to the 1982 UNCLOS signed by Indonesia and China,EEZ near the Naita Islands belongs to Indonesia's sovereignty.Indonesia also refuses to accept the term about the sea area. It does not see any legal documents, so there is no legal basis.The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reiterated that Indonesia does not overlap with China in terms of judicial jurisdiction. It will never acknowledge the nine -segment line by China, because according to the 2016 Hague International Arbitration Tribunal, China's nine -segment line advocates violating the United Nations Marine LawConvention.
On January 2nd, Geng Shuang responded to the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: What I want to emphasize is that China ’s positions and claims are in line with international law including the United Nations Marine Law Convention.Regardless of whether Indonesia is accepted or not, it cannot change the objective facts of Chinese ownership in related waters.The so -called ruling of the South China Sea Arbitration Case is illegal and invalid, and China has long clarified the solemn position that does not accept and recognize it.China resolutely opposes that any country, groups, and individuals abuse illegal arbitration and decision to damage the interests of China.
Despite being asked to leave the Indonesian EEZ, until January 6, the Chinese Maritime Police Ship was still working at the sea of the Naita Islands 130 nautical miles away from RANAI (Naita County).The Indonesian Parliament has condemned Chinese ships into the waters of the Naita Islands, while Indonesian media began to report the situation of intense upgrades.A scholar even asked the government to recall the Indonesian ambassador to China and review all projects that cooperate with China.Minister of Politics, Law, and Security, Ma Ford, said that the incident violated Indonesia's sovereignty, and Indonesia would not negotiate with China on the EEZ issue.
However, the Indonesian Minister of Defense Plaboava asked all parties to stay calm, saying that Indonesia was seeking a peaceful solution.He added that China is a friend of Indonesia.As an influential retired general and Indonesian President Zako's close relatives, Minister of Marine Affairs and Investment Loose also believes that people should not rendering exaggerating this dispute.He pointed out that China has no intention of conflicting with Indonesia. If the Chinese maritime police vessels are in accordance with international law, Indonesia should not take any action by EEZ on the Indonesian Naita Islands;International law.
Gukaden Island Tour
The two Indonesian ministers seem to try to ease the tension.Nevertheless, Zoko said on January 6: The Naita Islands and its EEZ belong to Indonesia, and there is no room for negotiating with any country.However, he did not mention China in the statement.
According to reports, Geng Shuang said on January 8: I want to emphasize that there is no dispute over territorial sovereignty in China and Indonesia, and the presence of marine rights in some seas of the South China Sea has overlap.We hope that the Indonesian side will be calm, and we are willing to continue to deal with the differences with Indonesia to maintain the relationship between the relationship between the two countries and the peaceful and stable situation of the region.In fact, China and Indonesia have also maintained communication through diplomatic channels.
On the same day, Zoko boarded Natuna Besar to reiterate his determination to defend Indonesia EEZ.According to reports, Chinese fishing vessels and maritime police vessels also left the sea area after inspecting Zokden Island.
In order to prevent another foreign ship from entering EEZ in the future, the Indonesian Navy strengthened patrols in the waters of the Naita Islands.On January 15th, one week after Zako's inspection, Ma Ford and the new marine affairs and fishery Minister Eddie also visited Dana Taka Island.Ma Ford called on Indonesian fishermen in the local and other regions to fish in the sea of Naita, and their existence can prevent the arrival of foreign fishing vessels.Obviously, there are not many Indonesian fishing vessels fishing in the area.Ma Ford also said that Indonesian fishing vessels will be protected by the Indonesian Navy during fishing.A spokesman for the Indonesian Navy also assured them that if Chinese fishing vessels return to the sea area, they will be detained.
During the presidential presidential President, there are not many such incidents. The seized Chinese fishing vessels are often released after the diplomacy behind the scenes.
When Zoko was elected as the President of Indonesia in October 2014, incidents that foreign fishing vessels broke into the Indonesian waters continued to increase, so that Indonesia began to worry about sovereignty being affected.This became more obvious after Suxi became the minister of marine affairs and fisheries.She decided to adopt a tougher policy to be detained by foreign ships illegally fishing in EEZ in Indonesia, and many of them were eventually sunk.
She also began to focus on EEZ, the sea area of the Naita Islands.On March 19, 2016, an Indonesian patrol ship detained a Chinese fishing boat that broke into the sea of Naita.However, a Chinese maritime boat suddenly appeared and hit Indonesian patrol vessels to rescue Chinese fishing vessels.Su Xi revealed to the media and protested to Beijing.The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that Chinese fishermen conducted normal production operations in traditional fishing grounds.
The incident immediately became a national issue, and Indonesian public opinion began to hostile to China.China quickly sent a special envoy to bypass the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see Zoko.A Spokesperson Scho subsequently announced that this was a misunderstanding, and the dispute was temporarily resolved.
Indonesia strengthened the military power of Naita
On May 27, 2016, about two months after the incident, a Chinese fishing boat broke into the EEZ of Indonesia.Jakarta proposed to protest, and Beijing responded with the same reason.This time, Zoko was forced to show that his attitude to defend Indonesia's sovereignty was serious.He and several Cabinet Ministers inspected the waters of the Naita Islands in the warship and held a short cabinet meeting on the warship.The Indonesian Parliament discussed the problem of the Naita Islands and passed the budget of the development of military bases at the place.On June 17, 2016, a Chinese fishing boat broke into the sea area, but this time the Indonesian Navy was fully prepared and successfully detained the Chinese fishing boat.
Indonesia began to strengthen the military base of the Naita Islands and dispatched military personnel.In 2017, it renamed the South China Sea in its EEZ to Bei Na Na Nahai.Jakarta ignored Beijing's renames.Since then, the waters of Naita have been calm for about three and a half years.
It is unclear why China ’s EEZ activities in the sea of Naita have increased suddenly in December last year; there are more Chinese fishing vessels that appear there than before.A observer believes that China wants to use the uncertainty of the United States to maintain its hegemony in the South China Sea; others believe that Beijing just wants to test the new Zoko government, because the latter's attention is put on economic growthAnd IndonesiaThe capital moved from Jakarta to East Kaliman.These incidents did not serve as the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, and Plaboavo was really intriguing after visiting Beijing from December 15th to 17th last year.
Although Plaboor is a well -known eagle person, his initial response to Chinese fishing vessels into EEZ was mild.The same is true of Luhut.Both seemed to want to ease the tension of the Naita Islands, because the Indonesian nationalism is looking up, and the Zoko government does not want to be scattered by it.Perhaps Luhut is more concerned about the economic situation and attracting Chinese investment because he is now responsible for investment affairs.China also responded to these attitudes.The Chinese ambassador to Indonesia told the media that the Naita incident would not affect China's investment in Indonesia.
Turn on the arguments of both parties
Before and after the incident of Chinese fishing vessels broke into the EEZ of Indonesia last December, it can be clearly seen from the statement of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs that China now publicly declare that it has sovereignty and jurisdiction in parts of the natal sea area.China has reiterated historical rights to the sea area near the South China Sea and the Nansha Islands. These sea areas have been Chinese fishing areas since ancient times.Prior to the incident at the end of last year, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had used traditional fishing grounds as the basis for Chinese fishing vessels in the relevant sea.
It is worth noting that, looking at the response to Indonesia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, China has never used the term nine lines, and replaced it with historical rights.Of course, many observers immediately think of the nine -stage line. It is based on history and declares that it has sovereignty over 90%of the sea area of the South China Sea.The Hague International Arbitration Tribunal decided in 2016. The Nine -segment Line violated the United Nations Convention on the Marine Law and denied the Jiuzuan Line claim.China strongly opposed the arbitral tribunal ruling, claiming that it was illegal and prejudiced, and condemned Indonesia to use the ruling to negate China's claims.Interestingly, China claims in Indonesia's response to Indonesia on January 2 this year that Beijing's position and claim are in line with the Convention on International Law and the United Nations Marine Law.
China insists that it has no dispute over territorial sovereignty in Indonesia, but there is an overlap with maritime rights and interests in parts of the sea area of Naita.China seems to acknowledge Indonesia's sovereignty over the Naita Islands and its 12 nautical miles, but does not recognize the EEZ of Indonesia, which is extended to 200 nautical miles.
For Indonesia, Indonesia's sovereignty includes the Nakasas Islands, 12 nautical collar and 200 nautical EEZ.This sovereignty is recognized by the Convention on the Marine Law, and Indonesia and China are both parties to the Convention.Therefore, Indonesia believes that Chinese fishing vessels and sea police vessels appear in the EEZ EEZ, infringing Indonesia's sovereignty.
In fact, Indonesian diplomats believed in the United Nations Secretary -General in July 2010, questioning the legal basis of the nine -segment line.It believes that the Nine -stage Line violates the Convention on the United Nations Marine Law of China as one of the signed countries, so it cannot be accepted.Indonesia also asked the secretary -general to distribute the letter to all UN member states.China chooses not to respond to this letter.
Interestingly, when the arbitral tribunal announced that there was no legal basis for the nine -stage line, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs adopted a neutral position.It just said that Indonesia will adhere to the principle of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Marine Law and does not mention the arbitral tribunal's decision.However, after the invasion of the end of last year, Indonesia changed its position and mentioned the arbitral tribunal ruling.This anger in Beijing.
The invasion at the end of last year means that the problem of Naita has developed a new development.Beijing has changed its position, and now it is declared that it has sovereignty rights and jurisdiction over the related waters of Nansha Islands (that is, part of the sea of EEZ).This is no longer a traditional fishing ground.
Jakarta refused to acknowledge Beijing's sovereignty and first mentioned the arbitral tribunal ruling.The incident at the end of last year also strengthened Indonesia's position and accelerated the military assembly of Indonesia in the sea of Naita.If the invasion occurs again, it may evolve into an open conflict, and the emotional anti -neutral and anti -Chinese emotions in Indonesia will rise again.
(The author is a senior visiting researcher at the Yusov Isaf Isa Eastern South Asian Research Institute in Singapore, a part -time professor of the Nanyang University of Technology Rajernan International Research Institute, and translated by Golden Shun)
Original Institute of Launani Research Institute on February 19th, ISEAS PERSPECTIVE.
