One such negotiation is the one related to the determination of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary with Vietnam. Indonesia and Vietnam began negotiations for the first time on May 21, 2010. There have been dozens of negotiations between the two countries since then.

Differences in understanding related to the EEZ have not yet found a compromise satisfactory for both parties. Both Indonesia and Vietnam have proposed unilateral-boundary lines.

Indonesia proposes a maritime-boundary line that is different from the seabed-boundary line. Meanwhile, Vietnam proposes a sea-boundary line that is the same as the seabed-boundary line.  This difference makes their claims overlap.

"Recently, a new round of negotiation on the determination of the RI-Vietnam EEZ started again. On 14-16 July 2022, the Indonesian and Vietnamese technical teams have held the 14th Technical Meeting for the Determination of the RI-Vietnam EEZ," said Yulius Yohanes, an international relations observer from Tanjungpura University, in a written presentation, on Sept. 5.

"At the meeting, the two parties reached an agreement to rectify one of the coordinates of the EEZ boundary line proposed by Indonesia. With these improvements, around 6,500 square kilometers of remaining area is formed," he explained.

Based on the negotiation process, the Indonesian Technical Team has granted concessions to Vietnam, while Vietnam has abandoned its basic single-boundary line position. This made the Indonesian Technical Team consider granting a larger concession.

Indonesia's proposal line has moved down to the south about 65 percent of the total area formed from the unilateral claims of the two countries. The Indonesian Technical Team is even considering granting a maximum concession of about 10 percent more.

According to Yulius Yohanes, Vietnam is trying to achieve maximum profit, and is considered to have not fulfilled its commitment to move from the basic-claim position. This is not a win-win negotiation.

Responding to the circulating results of the discussion, the member of the First Commission of the House of Representatives of Sukamta expressed his surprise. According to Sukamta, the negotiations on the establishment of the state borders are a sensitive issue, concerning the sovereignty of Indonesia's territory. "At a glance, we must see this as a loss for Indonesia, because of the loss of part of the territory that Indonesia has claimed all this time. We certainly don't want the past incident of Sipadan-Ligitan to repeat...So the position of Indonesia's claim in the disputed area in the North Natuna Sea is already strong internationally and legally. Why is the news that Indonesian Technical Team gives concessions to Vietnam?  This becomes the question." said Sukamta on Sept. 7.

So far, there has been friction between Indonesia and Vietnam, which has led to conflicts over the issue of illegal fishing that happens within Indonesia's territorial waters.

The latest incident occurred on July 24. The Indonesian Navy's ship, Cut Nyak Dien-375 BKO Sea, detained two fishing vessels with the Vietnamese flag. As a result, the Indonesian Navy arrested 16 crew members (ABK) and fish weighing 10 tonnes.

Professor of International Maritime Law at Diponegoro University, Eddy Pratomo, said that the delimitation of Indonesia's maritime boundaries is a crucial issue, because it can protect the country's sovereignty.

However, the delimitation of maritime boundaries is not an easy matter that can be taken care of quickly by the state. Indonesia must keep trying to defend the sovereignty of the country by continuing to fight for every inch of its territory.

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