Indonesia’s Strategy to Uphold its Sovereign Rights in Its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea

Abstract

Ever since the end of World War II, in 1947 the Republic of China (ROC), then People's Republic of China (PRC) has involved in overlapping claims on the South China Sea (SCS) with Brunei, Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam, triggered by Nine Dash Line (NDL) map of China which claims 85% of SCS and its Spratly Islands and Paracel Islands, which seizing other countries' island and waters and bringing the friction is known as South China Sea (SCS) Dispute. 

Efforts have been made by those countries through bilateral and multilateral meetings, including in the ASEAN and PRC governments Meeting in Phnom Penh, November 4th, 2002 which produced the Declaration On The Conduct Of Parties In The South China Sea (DOC SEA), with the commitment "to resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force, through friendly consultations and negotiations by sovereign states directly concerned, with universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982, UN Convention on the Law of the Sea." (DOC SEA. 2002). In contrast, not long after the Phnom Penh Meeting, China continued its strategy by maneuvering around the South China Sea to impose its NDL claim. Amid the intensifying tensions brought by these offensive maneuvers, in 2009 China issued and registered to the United Nations (UN) its new NDL claim map which includes Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the Natuna Sea, southern of SCS, which Indonesia changed the name to the North Natuna Sea in 2017. The UN refuses this China's claim since it is not based on any international law particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (UNCLOS 1982). Indonesia also rejects this China’s NDL claim since it is categorically against its sovereign rights as stipulated in the UNCLOS 1982.

This review suggests that Indonesia needs to adopt a strategy with two approaches that are concurrently executed and mutually supportive, in order to uphold its sovereign rights in its EEZ in the North Natuna Sea. The first approach is a total diplomacy to approach all countries in the Asia region, particularly China, to recognize and respect Indonesia's sovereign rights as stated in the UNCLOS 1982. The second approach is increasing the defense capability including the improvement of the capability of the system, personnel, armament and equipment; to secure the works and worker of the activities of research and exploration and exploitation of natural resources; as well as guarding the security of the North Natuna Sea and the region of Kepulauan Riau Province.