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Indonesia to respond appropriately to South China Sea incidents, official says

Spokesperson Roy Soemirat was answering a question on Indonesia's response to the lingering presence of a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Natuna islands, which Indonesian maritime authorities said they had turned away several times last week. 

Agencies
Jakarta
Thu, October 31, 2024

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Indonesia to respond appropriately to South China Sea incidents, official says The Chinese coast guard ship 5204 was detected by Bakamla patrol ship KN Nipah 321 through an automatic identification system around 10:00 a.m local time on Saturday. (Courtesy of Bakamla/--)

I

ndonesia's position on the South China Sea remains unchanged and the country will do what is appropriate to ensure safety in its territory, a foreign ministry official said on Thursday. 

Spokesperson Roy Soemirat was answering a question on Indonesia's response to the lingering presence of a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Natuna islands, which Indonesian maritime authorities said they had turned away several times last week. 

"We are seeking confirmation and exchanging information. Dynamics on the ground will involve so many parties," he told a press conference. 

The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) has driven a Chinese coast guard ship from contested waters in the South China Sea for the third time last week.

Chinese vessels have occasionally entered Indonesia-claimed areas of the North Natuna Sea at the southern edge of the South China Sea, drawing protests from Jakarta.

The same ship first entered the disputed waters on Monday and again on Wednesday last week, with Indonesian patrol ships driving it away both times, Bakamla said.

It added that the Chinese vessel on Monday had disrupted a survey being conducted by state-owned oil company Pertamina, and that when contacted by an Indonesian ship, the Chinese coast guard said the area was part of Beijing's jurisdiction.

Huge, unexploited oil and gas deposits are believed to lie under the South China Sea's seabed, though estimates vary greatly.

The incidents are an early test for newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto who has pledged to bolster the defence of Indonesian territory.

In 2020, Indonesia deployed fighter jets and warships to patrol the Natuna islands' waters in a spat with Beijing after Chinese vessels entered the area.

 

 

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