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Voters must pay due attention to maritime security
The current state of Indonesia’s maritime security apparatus has improved, but it is still inadequate relative to Indonesia’s vast maritime territory.
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Caught in the act: Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) personnel intercept two Vietnamese fishing boats caught poaching in Natuna waters in Riau Islands on Oct. 2, 2020. (Kompas.com/Hadi Maulana)
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s the legislative and presidential elections draw closer, maritime security is an issue that voters should pay attention to and study candidates’ policies regarding it.
Maritime security is not necessarily limited to warships and naval warfare. It also encompasses the maritime environment's integrity and maritime navigation safety. As an archipelagic nation, Indonesia has an inherent interest in keeping its maritime environment safe and secure from threats at and from the sea.
There are at least three primary maritime security concerns for Indonesia.
First, China’s assertive behavior in the South China Sea has had ramifications on regional stability. In addition, the renewed attention of great powers in the Indo-Pacific has generated differing visions of Indo-Pacific security. It is in Indonesia’s interests to ensure these tensions do not adversely affect its own security.
Second, the current state of Indonesia’s maritime security apparatus has improved, but it is still inadequate relative to Indonesia’s vast maritime territory. There are still gaps in routine patrols due to equipment and personnel shortages. Although imaging technologies may alleviate operational burdens, effective maritime law enforcement still requires hulls and crews at sea.
Third, environmental degradation of the marine environment will have catastrophic effects on Indonesia’s territorial integrity. It is estimated that by 2050, thousands of islands that make up the archipelago will be submerged. Moreover, environmental degradation affects global fish stocks. Drops in fish stocks force fishing vessels to venture further out into the high seas, contributing to a rise in illegal fishing and increasing the risk of fishing wars. Smaller fishermen without the means to fish in the high seas are limited to territorial waters, where declining fish stocks have often triggered violent conflict between traditional fishing communities.
Given this situation, it is crucial that the next administration has a coherent agenda that addresses both global and domestic maritime security problems. There are at least three major issues the next administration should pay attention to and seek to solve.
