The government has maintained that there is no change in Indonesia’s territorial sovereignty in the North Natuna Sea region.
“There is no shift in our country’s standing regarding territorial sovereignty in the North Natuna Sea,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono told the media after attending a Plenary Cabinet Meeting led by President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Monday, Desember 2, 2024.
He added that maintaining national sovereignty remains Indonesia’s top priority, especially in addressing strategic issues in the region.
Indonesia and China have overlapping claims in the North Natuna Sea, stemming from China’s assertion over areas that Indonesia considers part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Indonesia firmly maintains its sovereignty based on the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Sugiono, however, added that the government is also exploring collaborative measures with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to support the economic interests of both countries. He was referring to a joint statement released at the end of President Parabowo’s visit to China on November 9, 2024, that Indonesia and China had reached an, “Important common understanding on joint development in areas of overlapping claims and agreed to establish an Inter-Governmental Joint Steering Committee to explore and advance relevant cooperation.”
“This cooperation is carried out to achieve mutual benefits in areas that are claimed by both Indonesia and China,” he said.
Sugiono said further that the two countries have agreed to form a joint committee to discuss details of the cooperation. The committee will discuss the geographical location and the application of relevant laws from each country.
“Every party continues to uphold the applicable laws, so that there is no shift in Indonesia’s standing regarding territorial sovereignty [in North Natuna Sea],” he cited.
International cooperations
Separately, Head of the Presidential Communications Office, Hasan Nasbi, defended President Prabowo’s overseas trip last month as a measure to strengthen international cooperations. He was responding to criticism voiced by various parties against the president’s 16-day tour to six nations last month.
According to Hasan, the President emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to continue to fight for national interests through participation in global economic cooperation forums.
“In addition to joining BRICS, Indonesia is also applying for the OECD membership and participating in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The President emphasized the importance of joining economic clubs that provide benefits for our nation,” he said.
