Safeguard Sovereign Rights

The government must therefore ensure the safety of Indonesian fishers who conduct activities in the North Natuna Sea, as well as the overall safety and security of Indonesia’s territorial waters.

ARSIP ALIANSI NELAYAN NATUNA

A screenshot from a fisherman\'s video shows the Chinese destroyer Kunming-172 and five other Chinese vessels entering the North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands, Monday (13/9/2021).

The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) has sovereign rights over inland waters, archipelagic waters, territorial seas and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as stipulated in Article 7 of Law No. 32/2014 on Maritime Affairs.

A serious issue thus arose when a destroyer and five other Chinese vessels were found last week in Indonesia’s EEZ in the North Natuna Sea. The same could be said for a previous incident in which the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier passed close to the Natuna Block in the Indonesian EEZ. All activities in territorial waters need to be ascertained whether they interfere with Indonesia’s sovereign rights or not.