Indonesian Coast Guard (Bakamla) patrol ship, Tanjung Datu 301, shadowed and expelled China Coast Guard (CCG) 5402 after the latter interfered with Survey and 3D Seismic Data Processing activities being conducted by PT Pertamina East Natuna’s 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.
International relations professor at the Padjajaran University, Teuku Rezasyah, said the Indonesian foreign ministry must send a protest note to the Chinese government.
“Indonesian ambassador in Beijing should have a dialog with China’s Armed Forces and at the same time, the Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters should summon and seek explanation from China’s defence attache in Indonesia,” he said.
Rezasyah said China has violated the Indonesian territory and sovereignty and its territorial claim based on its traditional fishing ground has no ground in international law.
“If we try to think like China does, by claiming the vast areas controlled by ancient Majapahit and Sriwijaya kingdoms as ours, we can make a claim of territorial control as far as Africa Continent. However, it will be ridiculous if we do that,” he said.
