Indonesia says no overlapping claims with China in South China Sea despite joint agreement

NO LEGAL BASIS

Indonesia’s foreign ministry has repeatedly said the country is a non-claiming state in the South China Sea and does not have overlapping jurisdiction with China.

On Monday, the ministry said its position had not changed and that the agreement would have no impact on sovereign rights.

“Indonesia reiterates its position that these (Chinese) claims have no international legal basis,” he said.

“Partnership sovereignty does not affect sovereign rights or Indonesia’s jurisdiction in the Northern Natuna Sea.”

China’s foreign ministry said the article “clarifies the direction of cooperation and political consensus between the two sides on common development in overlapping maritime areas claimed by the two countries.”

Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated that Indonesia and China will further investigate issues such as the content and form of cooperation, adding that China’s claims in the South China Sea have a historical basis and consensus will benefit both.

China’s U-shaped line, based on ancient maps, starts in central Vietnam and extends into the waters off Indonesia’s Natuna islands, more than 1,000 kilometers south of the island of Hainan.

Brunei is moving into Malaysia’s EEZs. Philippines and in Vietnam, it is patrolled by the Chinese coast guard, which its neighbors accuse of aggression and seek to disrupt energy and fishing activities.

China generally says its ships prevent attacks on its territory.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry said the economic agreement with China on maritime issues covers fisheries and fish protection and hopes it will be a model to preserve peace and friendship.

However, some Indonesian analysts said that signing such an agreement could have repercussions and be interpreted as a change of attitude.

“If we refer to the official joint statement, it means we accept overlapping claims,” said maritime analyst Aristyo Rizka Darmawan, adding that this could jeopardize Indonesia’s sovereign rights to exploit resources in its EEZ.

The official added that Indonesia may have signed the agreement to strengthen economic ties.

Klaus Heinrich Raditio, a lecturer on Chinese politics, said Indonesia never had overlapping claims and that the clause’s inclusion in the statement was “inappropriate”.

“This joint statement puts our national interests at risk,” he said, adding that it could still be renegotiated.