Trying to Disturb Natuna Island ZEE, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry Immediately Take Action; 'China Has No Legal Basis'

News24xx.com - The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated its rejection of China's historical claims in the exclusive economic zone of Indonesia (EEZ) located near the waters of the Natuna Islands, Riau Province.

The rejection was delivered a day after the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed to have sovereignty over the territorial waters near the Nansha Islands or the Spratly Islands, which borders directly with the Natuna Sea.

"China's historical claim on EEZ on the grounds that Chinese fishermen have long been active in the waters in question is unilateral, has no legal basis and has never been recognized by UNCLOS 1982," explained the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (01 January 2020).

Chinese patrol vessels actively guard their fishing vessels in the South China Sea, and have been accused of entering Indonesia's territory several times.
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry added that China's claim on EEZ "has been discussed and countered by the 2016 SCS Tribunal Decree."

The 2016 SCS Tribunal refers to the decision of the South China Sea session or the session on the South China Sea dispute held in The Hague in July 2016 which decided that China had no legal basis in its various actions in the South China Sea, including building artificial islands.

The court also ruled that China does not have sovereignty over the vast waters in the region. The trial was held at the request of the Philippine government which also claimed to have sovereignty in the Spratly Islands.

The term used by China as "relevant waters" to refer to waters around the territories they claim is also rejected by Indonesia.

Not to be outdone, the Chinese government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang, confirmed that the country had historical rights in the South China Sea.

Whereas based on the law and clear boundaries regarding its claims in the exclusive economic zone based on 1982 UNCLOS, Indonesia does not have overlapping claims or overlapping claims with China.

As for the South China Sea region, there are overlapping claims between countries in Southeast Asia, namely the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, as well as China and Taiwan.

The latest dispute between Indonesia and China emerged after Indonesia on Monday (30 Dec) sent a memorandum of protest on the grounds that Chinese fishing vessels entered Natuna waters.

On several previous occasions, Indonesia has also captured Chinese-flagged fishing vessels accused of stealing fish near the Natuna islands. Chinese patrol boats appear to accompany these fishing vessels.

However, the Chinese authorities have always insisted that their fishing vessels operate legally in their territories.

 

 

NEWS24XX.COM/CTR