THE Chinese government says it is ready to negotiate with Indonesia regarding overlapping claims in the sea.
“China is ready to work with Indonesia to realize the important understanding reached between the leaders of the two countries and ensure that the results of our cooperation can benefit both countries and both peoples as soon as possible,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jiang at a press conference in Beijing on Monday. (11/11/2024).
This was conveyed in connection with Joint Statement the Chinese and Indonesian governments regarding Enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Sino-Indonesian Community for a Shared Future taken from the Chinese State Council website as a result of the bilateral meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and President Xi Jinping on November 9 2024.
In point 9 of the agreement, it was stated that the two countries would jointly create more bright spots in maritime cooperation, including for areas experiencing overlapping claims, and agreed to form a Joint Steering Committee with the aim of increasing cooperation relevant to principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, flexibility, pragmatism, and building consensus, in accordance with respective legal regulations.
“China advocates joint development and puts aside disputes and is committed to working with overseas neighbors so that disputes can be better managed, promote cooperation, uphold stability and achieve win-win results,” Lin Jian added.
However, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) issued a statement that the joint agreement could not be interpreted as recognition of the 9-Dash-Lines claim because Indonesia had always held the position that the claim had no basis in international law and was not in accordance with UNCLOS 1982 so that cooperation was not possible. impact on Indonesia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea.
For Indonesia, this cooperation is subject to regional regulations; law ratifying international maritime treaties, especially the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention; as well as ratification of bilateral agreements regarding the legal status of waters or maritime boundary delimitation; regulations regarding marine spatial planning as well as fisheries conservation and management, taxation and various other provisions.
Previously, a senior researcher at the Center for Sustainable Ocean Policy at the University of Indonesia, Aristyo Rizka Darmawan, said the signing was a mistake because it was the same as Prabowo’s government recognizing China’s sovereignty claims near the Natuna Sea, which is still Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“But this is actually a mistake, because in fact Indonesia and China do not have overlapping areas,” said a person contacted by Media Indonesia, Sunday (10/11/2024).
Aristyo said that Prabowo’s steps gave rise to fundamental problems. Indonesia should not need joint development with China considering that there have never been overlapping claims.
“This is actually detrimental to us, we have legitimate claims based on international law. How come we want joint development with China whose claims are not valid based on international law? This actually harms us,” he explained. (Ant/P-3)
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