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Amid spat with China, Natuna regent demands special status for islands
The regent argues that the current status of the Natuna regency administration did not mandate marine watch over the islands.
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A view of a Chinese Coast Guard ship in Natuna waters is seen on a monitor that is connected to a camera on a surveillance aircraft belonged to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) on Saturday. (Antara/M Risyal Hidayat)
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atuna Regent Abdul Hamid Rizal has suggested that the central government turn the Natuna and Anambas regencies in Riau Islands into new provinces to heighten security amid skirmishes with China in the North Natuna Sea.
Abdul said Law No. 23/2014 on regional administrations had not given regency and city administrations the authority to oversee their waters, preventing Natuna and Anambas from securing and managing the Natuna waters, which have been frequented by ships from China laying claim on parts of their marine area.
"If Natuna was a special province, then it can be granted the authority and the ability to secure, manage and guard its coastal area and waters — especially in the border region, which is currently under the authority of Riau Islands province," he said in a statement.
He added that the Natuna administration along with its people would give all their might and resources to maintain Indonesia's sovereignty in Natuna, calling on the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Defense Ministry to strengthen security in the Natuna waters.
Following a series of naval maneuvers by Chinese coastguard and fishing vessels in Natuna waters last week, Indonesia summoned Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Xiao Qian on Monday to lodge a formal protest, with the Foreign Ministry saying that Indonesia would never recognize China's Nine-Dash Line — the geographic expression of Beijing's sweeping claims over the South China Sea — because it was contrary to international law.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang insisted on Tuesday that the ships were performing "routine" activities to assert its sovereignty over the nearby Spratly Islands as well as its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters nearby, adding that China would like to work with Indonesia to continue managing disputes properly through bilateral dialogue.
Indonesia responded Wednesday by firmly rejecting the asserted historical claims over its exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea. The ministry said they were "unilateral, have no legal basis and have never been recognized by the 1982 UNCLOS [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]".
