The China Coast Guard Ship (CCG) 5402 re-entered the Indonesian water jurisdiction, in Indonesian part of the South China Sea or the North Natuna Sea, on Thursday, October 24, 2024 after the first entry violation on Monday.
Director of Marine Operations at the Indonesian Coast Guard (Bakamla), Admiral Octavianus Budi Susanto, ordered for the dispatch of Pulau Dana-323 ship to intercept the CCG 5402 upon receiving a report of its entry.
At 07.30 a.m. local time, Pulau Dana-323 ship tried to contact the CCG 5402, but but was not responded. Instead the Chinese coast guard ship approached and disturbed the MV Geo Coral belonging to PT Pertamina East Natuna, which was conducting survey activities.
Pulau Dana-323 ship drove CCG 5402 to get out of the Indonesian Continental Shelf so as not to interfere with MV Geo Coral’s activities. The Pulau Dana-323 was assisted by Indonesian Navy warship KRI SSA-378 .
As earlier reported by Indonesia Business Post, Bakamla patrol ship, Tanjung Datu 301, shadowed and expelled CCG 5402 after the latter interfered with Survey and 3D Seismic Data Processing activities being conducted by MV Geo Coral Ship on Monday, October 21, 2024.
A statement released by Bakamla on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, stipulated that Bakamla’s Command and Control Center (Puskodal) received intelligence information about disruption by the CCG 5402 against survey activities being held on Monday by MV Geo Coral along with three Chase Vessels, namely UB Anugerah Bersama 17, AHT PSB Roller and TB Teluk Bajau Victory within the PT Pertamina East Natuna Working Area, which is included in the Indonesian Continental Shelf in the North Natuna Sea.
Based on this information, Tanjung Datu 301 moved toward the site of the incident and detected the CCG 5402 at 5.30 AM local time at 125 degree bearing at a distance of 7.3 Nautical Miles. Tanjung Datu 301 ship contacted the Chinese vessel and informed that it had entered Indonesia’s territorial waters. The CCG 5402, however, insisted that It was in the area of China’s jurisdiction.
At around 5.38 AM, an Indonesian Navy patrol ship Sutedi Senaputera 378 and a Bakamla Maritime Air Patrol aircraft arrived at the scene to support the Tanjung Datu 301. The Tanjung Datu 301 and the Sutedi Senaputra 378 immediately shadowed and drove the Chinese vessel away from the Indonesian jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea.
