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Indonesia says it has no overlapping South China Sea claims with China
Beijing has long clashed with Southeast Asian neighbours over the South China Sea, which it claims almost in its entirety, based on a "nine-dash line" on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of several countries.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and President Prabowo Subianto attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2024. (AFP/Florence Lo)
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ndonesia said on Monday it does not recognise China's claims over the South China Sea, despite signing a maritime development deal with Beijing, as some analysts warned the pact risked compromising its sovereign rights.
Beijing has long clashed with Southeast Asian neighbours over the South China Sea, which it claims almost in its entirety, based on a "nine-dash line" on its maps that cuts into the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of several countries.
Joint agreements with China in the strategic waterway have been sensitive for years, with some nations wary of deals they fear could be interpreted as legitimising Beijing's vast claims.
In 2016, an arbitral tribunal said the Chinese claim, based on its old maps, has no basis in international law, a decision China refuses to recognise.
A joint statement issued at the weekend during President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Beijing mentioned the two countries had "reached important common understanding on joint development in areas of overlapping claims".
The Foreign Ministry has repeatedly said the country is a non-claimant state in the South China Sea and has no overlapping jurisdiction with China.
On Monday, the ministry said its position was unchanged and the agreement would have no impact on its sovereign rights.
"Indonesia reiterates its position that those (Chinese) claims have no international legal basis," it said.
"The partnership does not impact sovereignty, sovereign rights or Indonesia's jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea."
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Prabowo on Saturday that Beijing hopes for a "new chapter" in bilateral relations, as the two leaders met.
Xi held talks with President Prabowo Subianto in Beijing, the first stop of Prabowo's inaugural foreign tour since he took office in October.
China is keen to work with Indonesia to "write a new chapter of joint self-reliance, solidarity and cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results as major developing countries", Xi told Prabowo in front of journalists.
