Indonesia Firmly Rejects China’s Claim
Indonesia has firmly reiterated its rejection of China’s unilateral claim over what Beijing describes as its traditional fishing grounds.
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Chief of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Pangkogabwilhan) Vice Adm. Yudo Margono presides over the Operation Natuna Alert ceremony in Natuna, on Friday (3/1/2020).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS— Indonesia has firmly reiterated its rejection of China’s unilateral claim over what Beijing describes as its traditional fishing grounds. The presence of Chinese vessels in these regions is a violation of Indonesia’s sovereignty over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as recognized by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
After attending a coordination meeting led by Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi confirmed that China had violated UNCLOS by entering Indonesia’s EEZ. Indonesia’s EEZ claim over the North Natuna Sea is based on UNCLOS. As a country that recognizes the convention, China is asked to respect Indonesia in the dispute.