Indonesia announced on Monday that it does not recognize China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea, despite having recently signed a maritime development agreement with Beijing. The deal, which aims to promote fisheries and environmental conservation, comes amid rising geopolitical tensions as China pursues territorial ambitions in one of the world’s most contested waterways.
This latest development follows years of disputes between China and Southeast Asian nations, as Beijing insists its territorial claims, outlined by a so-called “nine-dash line,” encompass nearly the entire South China Sea. This expansive claim cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of several countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and parts of Indonesia’s northern waters around the Natuna Islands.
The South China Sea is both strategically and economically significant. It provides critical shipping lanes and access to vast underwater resources, including valuable fisheries and energy deposits. China’s nine-dash line, derived from historical maps, extends over 1,000 kilometers from the Chinese mainland into the EEZs of its neighboring countries. Despite an international tribunal ruling in 2016 that the nine-dash line has “no basis in international law,” China continues to reject the ruling, maintaining that its historical rights validate its extensive claims.
For many countries in the region, including Indonesia, this stance poses a direct threat to their sovereignty and control over their own waters. China’s growing military presence and regular patrols in contested areas have sparked numerous standoffs, and neighboring countries often accuse China of harassment in an attempt to intimidate and disrupt their energy and fishing activities.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s recent visit to Beijing marked the announcement of a new maritime partnership with China. In a joint statement released over the weekend, both countries acknowledged reaching a “common understanding on joint development in areas of overlapping claims.” The agreement is expected to focus on fisheries and conservation efforts, according to Indonesia’s foreign ministry, which has insisted the deal will not compromise its sovereignty.
“Indonesia reiterates its position that those [Chinese] claims have no international legal basis,” Indonesia’s foreign ministry stated on Monday, reinforcing its longstanding assertion that its maritime jurisdiction and rights in the North Natuna Sea remain unchanged.
In response, China’s foreign ministry said the agreement “clarifies the political consensus and direction of co-operation” between the two nations in “overlapping maritime areas.” A Chinese spokesperson further asserted that there was a historical basis for China’s claims in the region and that this agreement could mark the beginning of mutually beneficial relations.
The deal has sparked mixed reactions domestically, with analysts and political observers warning that the joint statement could be misinterpreted as Indonesia recognizing China’s maritime claims. Aristyo Rizka Darmawan, a maritime analyst, expressed concern that the phrasing of the statement could imply an acknowledgment of overlapping claims, potentially compromising Indonesia’s rights to resources in its EEZ.
“If we refer to the official joint statement, that means we recognize overlapping claims,” Darmawan noted, underscoring that the clause could risk Indonesia’s sovereign rights to exploit natural resources within its own waters.
Klaus Heinrich Raditio, a lecturer in Chinese politics, voiced similar concerns, arguing that Indonesia never had overlapping claims with China to begin with. He questioned the phrasing of the statement, describing it as “inappropriate” and potentially risky for Indonesia’s national interests. Raditio believes the statement may have been diplomatically premature and suggested that it could still be subject to renegotiation.
China’s influence in Southeast Asia has steadily grown, as it strategically invests in infrastructure and trade agreements under the Belt and Road Initiative. This initiative has led China to make significant economic inroads in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other countries, making some of these nations increasingly wary of being economically dependent on China while facing maritime disputes.
Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, has thus far maintained a policy of non-alignment in major power rivalries and has historically avoided direct involvement in South China Sea disputes. However, China’s recent aggressive maneuvers in areas surrounding the Natuna Islands have put increasing pressure on Jakarta to assert its sovereignty.
Indonesia’s EEZ around the Natuna Islands lies along the southern end of China’s nine-dash line, and the region is frequently patrolled by Chinese coast guard vessels. Chinese authorities have claimed these waters as part of their traditional fishing grounds, which has led to a series of confrontations between Indonesian and Chinese vessels.
Following the joint statement, Indonesia’s foreign ministry reiterated that the deal does not compromise the country’s sovereignty, stressing that the economic agreement with China would cover only areas of fishery cooperation and environmental conservation. The ministry emphasized that the agreement would serve as a model for promoting peace and cooperation in the region without affecting sovereign rights.
“The partnership does not impact sovereignty, sovereign rights or Indonesia’s jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea,” read the official statement from the ministry, highlighting Indonesia’s firm position on maintaining control over its waters.
Despite these assurances, Indonesian opposition parties and public voices have called on the government to clarify the terms of the agreement to avoid potential misinterpretation. Critics argue that any ambiguity could inadvertently strengthen China’s claims in the region, especially if the deal is seen as setting a precedent for joint development in other contested areas.
The international community has been closely monitoring this development, particularly countries with overlapping claims in the South China Sea. Several Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines, have historically opposed any agreement that could be interpreted as legitimizing China’s nine-dash line.
The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s South China Sea claims, has been a touchstone for these nations as they defend their sovereign rights. However, China’s refusal to recognize the ruling and its increasing naval presence has created a challenging environment for regional stability.
While the Indonesian government remains adamant that the new deal with China does not affect its sovereignty, analysts believe that it may set a precedent for other Southeast Asian nations. If seen as a tacit acknowledgment of overlapping claims, the agreement could complicate the collective bargaining position of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in addressing China’s maritime assertiveness.
ASEAN countries have struggled to maintain a united front in the face of China’s territorial assertions. Some member states, like Cambodia and Laos, have strong economic ties with China and have adopted a more conciliatory stance, while others, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, have taken a firm position against China’s claims. This dynamic has complicated ASEAN’s efforts to negotiate a unified code of conduct in the South China Sea.
Indonesia has traditionally been a leading voice within ASEAN, promoting peaceful solutions and maintaining a balanced foreign policy. However, its recent maritime development agreement with China could be seen as Indonesia adopting a more pragmatic stance in its relations with Beijing.
Political observers suggest that while the deal could open the door to future collaborations, it may also deepen divisions within ASEAN, particularly if other member states view Indonesia’s agreement as a deviation from the bloc’s collective stance on territorial sovereignty.
Indonesia’s willingness to engage with China on joint maritime projects could mark a shift in its approach, balancing its commitment to sovereignty with the economic benefits of Chinese partnerships. The Indonesian economy, still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, is looking to strengthen its economic ties with China, which remains a significant trading partner and investor.
However, the maritime development deal also underscores the complex balancing act facing Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries, as they weigh the benefits of economic cooperation against the risks of compromising their sovereign rights.
Moving forward, Indonesia may have to take additional diplomatic steps to reaffirm its stance on the South China Sea. Clarifying the terms of the agreement with China, both domestically and within ASEAN, could help Indonesia maintain its image as a neutral player in the region while preserving its territorial integrity.
