A day after Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his special representative and Vice President Han Zheng to Jakarta to attend inauguration of President Prabowo Subianto, tension flared up between the two countries after a Chinese Coast Guard vessel twice in three days last week tried to disrupt a seismic data survey being conducted by an Indonesian energy company in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the North Nauna Sea.
Like Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan, Indonesia does not have any territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea. Despite this, Chinese ships have regularly entered its exclusive economic zone in the North Natuna Sea as Beijing claims it falls within its so-called U-shaped nine-dash line that includes 90% of the South China Sea.
Continuing harassment of its neighbours in the Southeast Asia region, China’s Coast Guard ship CCG 5402 entered the North Natuna Sea on October 21 when MV Geo Coral, a Norwegian research vessel, was carrying out a seismic data survey for the Indonesian energy company PT Pertamina.
South China Morning Post quoting Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency said the Chinese Coast Guard ship was driven out by the Southeast Asian country’s patrol boat after it “disrupted seismic survey and data processing activities being carried out by PT Pertamina in the Nauna Sea using the MV Geo Coral vessel.”
However, on October 23, the Chinese ship again entered the North Natuna Sea and came close to the site where the seismic survey was being carried out by PT Pertamina. This triggered a tension between officials of Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA) and personnel of the Chinese Coast Guard ship CCG 5402.
Upset Indonesian maritime security officials, deployed a patrol vessel and an aircraft to drive the Chinese vessel out of Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone in the North Natuna Sea, ABC News said quoting the Maritime Security Agency of Indonesia. To the disappointment of Indonesian authorities, the development occurred just when Jakarta and Beijing are gearing up to celebrate 75 years of their bilateral relations next year.
Moreover, it took place only a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping sent his special representative to Jakarta to attend the inaugural ceremony of Prabowo Subianto’s presidency. “At the invitation of the Indonesian government, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, as President Xi Jinping’s special representative, attended the inauguration of Indonesia’s new President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday (October 20),” Xinhua said.
On October 21, the Chinese Foreign Ministry was seen speaking highly of Beijing’s relations with Jakarta with its Spokesperson Lin Jian saying that “China attaches great importance to growing friendly ties with Indonesia.”
Even Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, during his visit to Jakarta, issued a statement which was invariably marked with positivity. Han, as per Xinhua, maintained Beijing’s willingness to work with Indonesia in “maintaining regional peace and stability while promoting world development and prosperity.”
Indonesia and China also enjoy strong economic and strategic partnership. In 2023, the bilateral trade between the two countries reached US $127.12 billion, with more than 1,000 Chinese companies operating in Indonesia, in manufacturing, agriculture, hydropower, minerals and other sectors. Being China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner, Indonesia adheres to one-China policy and ensures that Beijing’s core interests are not hurt.
Despite such resolute commitment of Indonesia, it took no time for China to shatter Jakarta’s goodwill and trust. It was evidently seen when China repeatedly sent its vessel in the North Natuna Sea to prevent Southeast Asia’s largest country from carrying out a survey for potential energy in its exclusive economic zone in the Sea.
Although, some experts suggest that by undertaking incursion into the North Natuna Sea, China may have tried to test the Indonesian new leader’s resolve. But others feel that through its latest act, Beijing has sent a hidden message to Jakarta that the water falls under its nine-dash line and that whoever the leader is in power in Indonesia, China will continue to exercise that claim.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague found no legal basis for China’s claim over the South China Sea under its U-shaped nine-dash line boundary. Yet past records show that China continues to follow its ‘might is right’ approach in dealing with its neighbours over the South China Sea.
In January 2020 also, tension flared up between the two countries after a Chinese coast guard vessel entered the North Natuna Sea to pressurize Indonesia to stop drilling for oil and gas as the region belonged to China. Indonesia, as per Reuters, did not give up drilling but Beijing after months of stand-off with Jakarta pulled out its vessel from the region.
The Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, which have overlapping claims over the South China Sea, have all come under China’s pressure to end energy projects in the Sea. But they have not ceded any ground to China.
This year in August, Vietnam and the Philippines agreed to strengthen their defence relations and deepen collaboration on maritime security. It is seen as a major step by the two countries to counter China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
On the other hand, Malaysia has planned to develop a new naval base in Bintulu in Sarawak to challenge China’s assertive stance in the South China Sea. According to CNA, it will be the sixth main naval base of Malaysia, which already has three bases in West Malaysia and another two in Sabah. Media reports suggest that construction of the base in Bintulu will be done in two phases and that it will be inaugurated in 2030. These measures indicate Southeast Asian countries’ resolve to call spade a spade. But the question is: Will China ever mend its behaviour to live in peace with its neighbours?