Sharing mutual concern with Indonesia regarding territorial disputes with China, Japan got Indonesia's back. (Image via Jawa Pos)

Japan worries about Natuna

Japan stated its concern about the recent incident when “foreign” boats entering Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Natuna waters, Riau Islands. The concern was delivered by the Spokesman for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Atsushi Kaifu, saying that China is trying to revert the status quo in Natuna, and the South China Sea as a whole.

Speaking in Jakarta on Friday’s banquet, Kaifu said that Japan, also as an archipelagic nation, has been monitoring the Natuna incident closely because both Japan and Indonesia have mutual territory disputes on the South China Sea with China.

The spokesman said that the effort to change the status quo by China is worrisome. So worrisome that it buzzed in the talks between Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Toshimitsu Motegi, and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi.

Kaifu said that both Tokyo and Jakarta is looking at the cooperation to develop the outmost islands, especially islands in Biak and Natuna. Japan plans to roll out some cash to develop integrated fisheries and maritime centers in these outmost islands.

Moreover, cooperation between Japan and Indonesia Coast Guard had been taken to secure the maritime sovereignty of Indonesia. The cooperation covers improvement in capability to handle maritime crimes and on-scene investigation.

Since December 2019, about 50 Chinese fish boats entered Natuna guarded by a war frigate. While Indonesia Coast Guard and Armed Forces tried to disperse them, they refused to leave the EEZ. According to the 1982 United Nations Convention Law of Sea (UNCLOS), Natuna is within Indonesia’s EEZ.

Regarding the matter, Indonesia had sent a letter of protest to Beijing. However, China threw the letter away, saying that its fishermen had long fished in the waters. Beijing said that Natuna is within its Nine-Dash Lines.

Source: https://bit.ly/2R8sQ1K