Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) and Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (Image: VNA)

Indonesia-Vietnam agree to accelerate EEZ discussion

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
International
Aug 01, 2019
2381
On the sideline of ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, from 29 July – 3 August, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, and her Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Binh Minh, held an impromptu meeting to discuss a certain range of issues between Indonesia and Vietnam, Tuesday (30/7).

One of the most important matters discussed was regarding the maritime boundary between Indonesia and Vietnam.

According to an official statement by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both Ministers of Foreign Affairs agreed that Indonesia and Vietnam should accelerate the talks regarding the overlapping Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the construction of its Provisional Agreement (PA).

The matter is crucial for both countries to tackle incidents where fishing vessels belonging to either country enter each other’s waters.

On the same day, a more technical meeting was held between officials from relevant Ministries from Indonesia & Vietnam to accelerate the settlement of territorial waters dispute.

Not only limited to the maritime boundary, Indonesia & Vietnam also discussed the situation in the South China Sea. Even though Indonesia does not have any claim in the dispute over the South China Sea, Retno only reminded that countries located within the region and all relevant parties should maintain peace and stability.

- MARITIME DISPUTE BETWEEN INDONESIA & VIETNAM –

Regarding their maritime boundaries, Indonesia and Vietnam are still overlapping each other, especially in territorial waters of Natuna Islands & North Kalimantan.

Vietnamese fishing vessels often breach the maritime boundary, entering Indonesian waters. From October 2014 until May 2019, about 294 sunk vessels were from Vietnam. In other words, about 57% to foreign vessels sunk by Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti, came from Vietnam.

The latest maritime issue between the two countries was when 2 Vietnamese supervisory vessels purposefully collided with Indonesian Parchim-class corvette, KRI Tjiptadi-381, in Natuna Waters, last April. KRI Tjiptadi-381 was adjourning a Vietnamese fishing vessel caught red-handed poaching in Natuna Waters.

According to EEZ, the apprehension was following the rule as the fishing vessel was caught fishing in Natuna Waters which is within Indonesian territory. However, the Vietnamese supervisory vessels tried to disrupt the process by bumping themselves into KRI Tjiptadi-381 and the vessel.

Due to the collision, KRI Tjiptadi-381 experienced minor damages. However, the Vietnamese fishing vessel by the number BD 979 was badly damaged and it sunk. Fortunately, the crews of the vessel were managed to be apprehended. Later, the crews were brought to Indonesian Navy Naval Base (Lanal) Ranai to be processed further.

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/internasional/20190801092733-106-417294/ri-vietnam-percepat-perundingan-zona-ekonomi-eksklusif

Politics , ASEAN , Maritime , Boundary , EEZ , Indonesia , Vietnam , Foreign-Affairs