Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) chief Vice Adm. Achmad Taufiqoerrochman said on Tuesday that Bakamla had detected two additional Chinese coast guard vessels in the North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands, but could not determine whether they were meant to patrol the waters or increase China’s presence.

“There are three [Chinese] coast guard vessels [in Natuna] and two vessels are seen further north. We’ll see whether the ships are part of a rotation or serve as reinforcement because we also see a logistical boat,” he said after a meeting with Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD.

“I have instructed the deployment of two Bakamla patrol boats from Batam [to Natuna].”

Bakamla had already stationed patrol boats in the area, according to Bakamla operational director Cdre. Nursyawal Embun.

“Three patrol boats currently operate [in Natuna]: the KN Tanjung Datu, KN Pulau Nipah and KN Pulau Dana,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Taufiqoerrochman also said his agency would support the government’s plan to settle more fishermen in the Natuna Islands by offering them protection.

“We'll sail among them, so they can operate close to our vessels.”

However, he said the plan could not be executed any time soon as the current high tides would be dangerous for fishermen.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) sent four F-16 jet fighters from the 16th Squadron to patrol the area.

Roesmin Noerjadin Air Force Base chief Air Cdre. Ronny Irianto Moningka said the aircraft departed on Tuesday, as instructed by Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto.

He emphasized that the move purely aimed at securing Indonesia’s EEZ and was not meant to provoke China.

“This is actually a routine operation in western Indonesia that we shifted to Natuna,” he said as reported by antaranews.com from Pekanbaru, Riau province. “We don’t want to provoke anyone; we are only protecting our territory.”

A country can exercise its sovereign rights within 200 nautical miles of its EEZ and full sovereignty within 12 nautical miles of its territorial seas.

The Indonesian Navy has deployed at least six warships to secure and patrol the Natuna waters.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is expected to visit Natuna regency on Wednesday to inspect areas that China claims as its “traditional fishing grounds”, which encroach on Indonesia’s EEZ.

Natuna regency administration spokesman Defrizal said that according to a tentative schedule, the presidential aircraft would arrive at Raden Sadjad Airport in Ranai at 9:50 a.m.

“From there, the President and his entourage are expected to leave for the Ranai Naval Base and head to an area in the Natuna Sea designated for inspection,” he told the Post on Tuesday.

Jokowi’s visit to Natuna would be his fourth to the regency but his first since starting his second term in office in October.

On June 23, 2016, Jokowi held a limited Cabinet meeting on board a warship in Natuna waters, which was seen by analysts as a power play in defense of Indonesian sovereign rights in the area. The President also visited Natuna to witness the commencement of an Indonesian Air Force exercise in October later that year and headed back to watch the military’s Quick Reaction Strike Force (PPRC) exercise in May 2017.

When the President arrives on Wednesday, Defrizal said that Natuna Regent Hamid Rizal planned to ask the President to turn Natuna into a new province with a special administrative status, in line with a presidential decree on Natuna’s regional expansion issued a few years ago.

Increased deployments by TNI and Bakamla are said to be a sign of the government trying to deter China, according to an expert.

“The deployments are purely made to deter [China], but there are also some domestic elements that seek to create a public debate and rally support for the government,” Idil Syawfi, a Parahyangan Catholic University lecturer on politics, told the Post.

He said the government should reduce tension between the two countries as China could use it as justification to deploy its newly built aircraft carrier in the South China Sea.

“I’m concerned that China is also using the conflict for domestic purposes. In December, China commissioned its second aircraft carrier. Don’t let this issue become a reason for China to deploy its carrier to the South China Sea,” Idil said.

He also urged the government to restructure the roles of agencies that handle maritime security, such as Bakamla, the Navy, Customs and Excise Agency and the National Police’s Water and Air Police (Polairud), to prevent competition between them.

“There are many agencies that have overlapping roles in the field, which can also create competition between agencies as some have better vessels and equipment than others.”

Meanwhile, Mahfud said the government was deliberating plans to create an omnibus law on maritime security, which aims to restructure the responsibility of agencies operating in Indonesian waters.

“There are overlapping authorities on our maritime management [that are based on] many laws, which are philosophically correct, but we currently need greater synergy. Therefore, we’re considering creating an omnibus law on maritime affairs,” he said on Monday.

Mahfud added that the government was still discussing whether the omnibus bill would take form as government regulation or a law.

“Insya Allah [God willing], it will all be clear this year because the President instructed [the creation of the bill] two years ago.” (mpr)

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