T

he government is stepping up defense around the Natuna Islands in the wake of increasing tension in the South China Sea, following China’s refusal to comply with the recent ruling of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

The Defense Ministry is integrating the deployment of Army and Navy forces, including the Marines, to safeguard Natuna in the event of potentially heightened tension caused by Chinese fishing vessels’ illegal activities.

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu explained that the plan would include the deployment of five F-16 jet fighters, three frigates and a battalion, which consists of between 500 and 700 soldiers, in addition to a new radar system and drones.

The deployment of the five F-16 jet fighters will be backed up by more firepower from Air Force bases in Riau Islands and Pontianak, West Kalimantan, which have both been put on standby in case of emergency.

Sea security around the Natuna Islands will also be intensified through the deployment of sea riders and heightened patrols by marines.

“We maintain a good relationship with China,” Ryamizard told the press on Monday, quickly adding, “But we must always be prepared.”

The plan to station the jet fighters as well as the frigates will need a refurbished runaway as the existing one cannot serve jet fighters, and the construction of a new port, both of which are expected to be ready next year.

Indonesia is not a claimant to the disputed resource-rich South China Sea, but has determined to maintain its fishing rights in the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Natuna Sea.

China claims around 80 percent of the South China Sea, which has brought it into dispute with the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

In a case brought by the Philippines, the PCA ruled last week that China had violated international maritime law by building up artificial islands that had led to the destruction of coral reefs and disruption of fishing and oil exploration.

Ryamizard repeatedly talked up Indonesia’s strategic role in maintaining security and peace around the disputed area.

The Foreign Ministry released a statement calling for restraint immediately after the ruling in an attempt to ward off potential conflict.

“Indonesia once again calls on all parties to exercise self-restraint and to refrain from any action that could escalate tensions, as well as to protect the Southeast Asian region particularly from any military activity that could pose a threat to peace and stability and respect international law […],” said the Foreign Ministry statement published on the ministry’s website.

Concerns have been raised recently by Chinese military exercises being conducted in some parts of the South China Sea, thus closing those parts off to other nations. No details about the nature of the exercises have been reported.

China’s refusal to accept defeat at the PCA has also been a cause for concern in the region.

“It’s no problem if it’s only a war of words and not crossfire. There has been no crossfire so far,” said
Ryamizard.

Despite the increasing patrols, Jakarta has maintained that the military presence is only to enforce the law in the Natuna waters, which are part of its territory.

After recently visiting Natuna, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo instructed ministers to accelerate maritime and fisheries development in the area.

The government is also seeking to relocate around 6,000 fishermen from overcrowded fishing areas around Java Island to less crowded, fish-rich waters, including those around Natuna.

The government is currently seeking to speed up exploration in a number of gas-rich blocks in Natuna to develop Natuna into a hub for gas processing, a move that also aims to increase Jakarta’s presence in its territory.
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