By Pizaro Gozali Idrus with the Anadolu Agency Indonesian wire
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) – China and Indonesia have backed away from an imminent conflict after they dispatched warships and planes to claim the ownership of the Natuna islands in the South China Sea. Both countries have now called for maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The tensions in the region escalated when Chinese fishing boats and coast guard vessels were spotted maneuvering in the waters around the islands last week.
''A Chinese coast guard vessel was spotted near the islands. We have taken precautions,'' said Indonesian Navy Spokesman Fajar Tri Rohadi.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday visited Natuna islands to make a political statement that his country was not backing down.
The country also deployed fighter jets and warships in the region.
Widodo told reporters on Natuna Besar island that the disputed waters belong solely to Indonesia. "We have a district here, a regent, and a governor. There are no more debates,” he said.
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang claimed sovereign rights and jurisdiction over waters and the islands.
“Chinese fishermen have long been engaging in fishery activities in waters near the Nansha islands, which has all along been legal and legitimate,” said Geng, using the Chinese name of the area.
Natuna islands border the South China Sea, most of which is claimed by China despite competing claims from other Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
The waters around the islands are believed having rich reserves of undiscovered oil and gas. The islands are located on a crucial passage for commercial shipping.
Chinese spokesman, however, stressed that Beijing would like to work with Indonesia to continue managing disputes through bilateral dialogue to maintain friendly relations and ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea.
– Not interested in war
The Chief of the Indonesian Marine Security Agency (Bakamla) Vice Admiral Achmad Taufiqoerrachman also stressed that his country was not interested in waging war with China.
Referring to President Widodo’s instructions, he said Indonesia will not compromise on the issue of sovereignty, but at the same time will take measurable actions.
He further said that three Chinese vessels were operating in Natuna waters until Tuesday morning.
China claims the sea and land features contained within the nine-dash line in the South China Sea, encircling as much as 90% of the contested waters. The line runs as far as 2,000 kilometers (1242 miles) from the Chinese mainland to the waters near the coastlines of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
According to the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a nation has sovereignty over waters, extending 12 nautical miles (22 km or 13 mi) from its land and exclusive control over economic activities 200 nautical miles (370 km or 229 mi). Beijing maintains that it has historical evidence proving control of territory.
Rejecting China’s claims, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry believes that Natuna waters are part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), according to the 1982 UNCLOS.
“Indonesia will never recognize the 9 PRC [People's Republic of China] dash lines as the drawdown is contrary to the 2016 UNCLOS Tribunal judgment,” said the ministry in a press statement last week.
– Maneuvers part of the larger plan
Experts believe that China’s latest maneuvers were not incidental, but a very well thought out plan.
“China wanted to check Indonesia's current alertness on Natuna. It is part of a large scenario related to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), trade wars with the U.S. and Beijing’s global aspirations,” said Dinna Winsu, an expert in international relations.
Fitri Bintang Timur, an international relations observer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), called on Indonesia to resolve tensions in the Natuna waters through diplomatic means.
"Indonesia does not recognize China's unilateral claim about the nine-dash line," she told Anadolu Agency.
Meanwhile, Professor of International Law at the University of Indonesia, Hikmahanto Juwana, said that the UNCLOS has already rejected Chinese so-called historical claims.
"EEZ waters are referred to by China as Traditional Fishing Grounds," said Juwana in a press release. He said while Article 51 of the UNCLOS accepts the concept of traditional fishing rights, it does not recognize traditional fishing grounds.
The Natuna islands come under Indonesia's Riau Island Province administration. Bordered by Vietnam and Cambodia to the north, Singapore, and Malaysia to the west, the waters are believed to be rich in squids, crabs, lobsters. They make up to hundreds of thousands of tons catch every year.
