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By SARA SCHONHARDT and BEN OTTO
Updated Nov. 12, 2015
A new civilian passenger terminal is constructed at the end of the Ranai Airbase runway on Natuna Besar, Indonesia, in 2014. Indonesia could take China to an international tribunal if Beijing’s South China Sea territorial claims, which include Indonesia’s resource-rich Natuna islands, aren’t resolved through dialogue.PHOTO: TIM WIMBORNE/REUTERS
JAKARTA—Indonesia could take China to an international tribunal if Beijing’s South China Sea territorial claims, which include Indonesia’s resource-rich Natuna islands, aren’t resolved through dialogue, Jakarta’s chief security minister said Wednesday.
Luhut Pandjaitan, a former general now in charge of Indonesia’s coordinating ministry of political, legal and security affairs, said in a public forum that Indonesia’s small Natuna islands on the southern edge of the South China Sea could be affected by China’s maritime claims.
The sprawling archipelago nation lies mostly to the south of the South China Sea, but the Natunas lie within the “nine-dash” line that China has used on maps, based on historical claims, to assert territorial rights to nearly the entire sea, bringing it into dispute with other claimants, chiefly Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei.
Mr. Pandjaitan, one of the most influential members of Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s government, said China’s line lacks a legal basis but it could affect the Natunas, an area rich in oil and gas.
“We would like to see a solution on this in the near future [through] dialogue,’’ Mr. Pandjaitan said. He didn't give a deadline. Otherwise, Jakarta could take the case to an international tribunal, he said, a measure that is already being undertaken by the Philippines and has angered Beijing.
“This is, I think, the best solution instead of power projections,” said Mr. Pandjaitan.
Chinese Foreign Minister Hong Lei said during a press briefing Thursday that China is committed to resolving relevant disputes with countries directly contesting its claims in the South China Sea on the basis of respect for international law and historical facts. He said China recognized the Natuna Islands as belonging to Indonesia and didn’t have any objections.
Mr. Lei said relations between China and Indonesia were sound and stable and China was ready to move the relationship forward.
Indonesia has traditionally tried to position itself as a mediator in the South China Sea dispute between its Southeast Asian neighbors and China. But under President Widodo, Indonesia is also trying to beef up maritime security over its sprawling 18,000 islands. Indonesia is looking to boost patrols of its strategic waters and will seek U.S. help to build a new coast guard.
The buildup comes as China has been projecting naval force in the South China Sea and recently began building islands on reefs, even creating runways capable of handling military aircraft. Last month, a U.S. warship sailed close to an artificial Chinese islet to assert freedom of navigation.
This week, a U.N.-backed tribunal said that it would begin hearing a case brought by the Philippines against Beijing by the end of the month. Manila alleges that China has violated international law through its actions in the South China Sea.
Beijing has dismissed the move, saying it will refuse to take part in the proceedings. In a statement posted on the foreign ministry’s website Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the case was a “knot” that kept relations between the two countries from improving.
Mr. Pandjaitan said Indonesia, as the biggest country in Southeast Asia, had a role to play in resolving regional conflicts in the South China Sea.
“We are working very hard on this. We are trying to approach the Chinese” he said.
Indonesia Invokes International Tribunal in South China Sea Dispute - WSJ
Updated Nov. 12, 2015
A new civilian passenger terminal is constructed at the end of the Ranai Airbase runway on Natuna Besar, Indonesia, in 2014. Indonesia could take China to an international tribunal if Beijing’s South China Sea territorial claims, which include Indonesia’s resource-rich Natuna islands, aren’t resolved through dialogue.PHOTO: TIM WIMBORNE/REUTERS
JAKARTA—Indonesia could take China to an international tribunal if Beijing’s South China Sea territorial claims, which include Indonesia’s resource-rich Natuna islands, aren’t resolved through dialogue, Jakarta’s chief security minister said Wednesday.
Luhut Pandjaitan, a former general now in charge of Indonesia’s coordinating ministry of political, legal and security affairs, said in a public forum that Indonesia’s small Natuna islands on the southern edge of the South China Sea could be affected by China’s maritime claims.
The sprawling archipelago nation lies mostly to the south of the South China Sea, but the Natunas lie within the “nine-dash” line that China has used on maps, based on historical claims, to assert territorial rights to nearly the entire sea, bringing it into dispute with other claimants, chiefly Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Brunei.
Mr. Pandjaitan, one of the most influential members of Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s government, said China’s line lacks a legal basis but it could affect the Natunas, an area rich in oil and gas.
“We would like to see a solution on this in the near future [through] dialogue,’’ Mr. Pandjaitan said. He didn't give a deadline. Otherwise, Jakarta could take the case to an international tribunal, he said, a measure that is already being undertaken by the Philippines and has angered Beijing.
“This is, I think, the best solution instead of power projections,” said Mr. Pandjaitan.
Chinese Foreign Minister Hong Lei said during a press briefing Thursday that China is committed to resolving relevant disputes with countries directly contesting its claims in the South China Sea on the basis of respect for international law and historical facts. He said China recognized the Natuna Islands as belonging to Indonesia and didn’t have any objections.
Mr. Lei said relations between China and Indonesia were sound and stable and China was ready to move the relationship forward.
Indonesia has traditionally tried to position itself as a mediator in the South China Sea dispute between its Southeast Asian neighbors and China. But under President Widodo, Indonesia is also trying to beef up maritime security over its sprawling 18,000 islands. Indonesia is looking to boost patrols of its strategic waters and will seek U.S. help to build a new coast guard.
The buildup comes as China has been projecting naval force in the South China Sea and recently began building islands on reefs, even creating runways capable of handling military aircraft. Last month, a U.S. warship sailed close to an artificial Chinese islet to assert freedom of navigation.
This week, a U.N.-backed tribunal said that it would begin hearing a case brought by the Philippines against Beijing by the end of the month. Manila alleges that China has violated international law through its actions in the South China Sea.
Beijing has dismissed the move, saying it will refuse to take part in the proceedings. In a statement posted on the foreign ministry’s website Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the case was a “knot” that kept relations between the two countries from improving.
Mr. Pandjaitan said Indonesia, as the biggest country in Southeast Asia, had a role to play in resolving regional conflicts in the South China Sea.
“We are working very hard on this. We are trying to approach the Chinese” he said.
Indonesia Invokes International Tribunal in South China Sea Dispute - WSJ
Again, you done it again. You knew the SCS dispute is not about freedom of navigation...
China is so grown up
