China's Natuna Aggression Challenges Indonesia's Defense Diplomacy
- NDTV.
Jakarta, VIVA – China's defense diplomacy efforts in Southeast Asia have been described as a “double-edged sword.” On one hand, China appears to seek closer ties with Southeast Asian nations, including Indonesia.
However, China also continues to assert claims over large portions of the South China Sea, often taking aggressive stances in the region, including within Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near the Natuna Islands, now referred to as the North Natuna Sea. Consequently, experts advise Indonesia to approach China’s diplomatic overtures with caution, considering the underlying challenges.
This perspective was highlighted at a seminar titled “China's Defense Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for Indonesia,” held on October 31, 2024, by the Maritime Security Program at the Faculty of National Security (FKN), the Indonesian Defense University (UnHan RI), and the Sinology Forum Indonesia (FSI).
Led by FSI Chairman Johanes Herlijanto, Ph.D., the event featured speakers including retired Rear Admiral Budiman Djoko Said of the Indonesian Navy and maritime security expert Ristian Atriandi Supriyanto, M.Sc. Attendees included senior officers from the Indonesian Navy and Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), as well as Indonesian academics and defense strategists.
FKN Dean Major General Pujo Widodo emphasized the seminar's relevance, citing intensified competition between the U.S. and China over influence in Southeast Asia, with both parties seeking control over areas like the Paracel and Spratly Islands.
"Indonesia has proposed a Code of Conduct to restrain China’s actions," Pujo stated, though he noted ASEAN's disunity on the issue. Pujo elaborated that defense diplomacy must focus on safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national safety, adding, “Our military is deployed to secure these three principles.”
Supporting this notion, Herlijanto pointed to recent incidents, including multiple intrusions by China’s Coast Guard into Indonesia’s jurisdiction near Natuna. "Just last week, Bakamla successfully drove out Chinese vessels in Natuna waters,” he noted.
