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Is Indonesia getting ‘grey-zoned’ by China?
Indonesia’s foreign policy knows no silence or inaction, including on matters that relate to its sovereign right in the North Natuna Sea.
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Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD and Home Minister Tito Karnavian visit the North Natuna Sea aboard the KRI Semarang-594 naval hospital ship on Nov. 23. The visit intends to communicate the government's commitment to strengthening Indonesia's outermost islands and border areas. (JP/Dian Septiari)
Indonesia’s foreign policy today operates within a fast-changing regional and global environment, which carries with it both opportunities and challenges.
In navigating this dynamic milieu, the country has been guided by its active and independent foreign policy that places great significance on the upholding of the principles enshrined within the United Nations Charter and international law.
Through respect for international law, Indonesia encompasses its conduct in diplomacy and foreign affairs. This emphasis on the value of international law certainly applies when it comes to the maritime issue. For Indonesia, in all matters concerning maritime-related inter-state relations, observance of UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 is of utmost importance.
Indonesia develops relations and cooperation with other countries on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefits as well as the principles of equal rights and sovereign equality of states. Within this framework, in exercising its rights, including its sovereign right, Indonesia has and will never be subjected to the pressures or coercive measures acted upon by other states.
Therefore, there is no such thing as “grey-zoned” Indonesia.
There is recently scholarly analysis that holds the view that Indonesia is getting “grey-zoned” by China (see Evan Laksmana, “Indonesia getting ‘gray-zoned’ by China”, asiatimes.com, Aug 30, 2022).
