Delighted to give a lecture at the Australian War College last week. I spoke on archipelagic sea lanes passage under UNCLOS. Happy to share the session with Dr. Gatra from ASPI. Thanks Dr Natalie Sambhi for the invitation. 🇮🇩🇦🇺
[THREAD]
Prabowo has signed MOU during history visit to China yesterday:
“They include the joint development of fisheries and oil and gas in maritime areas of overlapping claims between the two countries..”
I think this is wrong and dangerous.
Super excited to start my new journey as a Ph.D scholar at @ANUasiapacific@ANURegNet where I'll be working on Indonesia's foreign policy and the law of the sea! Hit me up when you're in Canberra!
My preliminary analysis with the @LowyInstitute on the latest controversy surrounding the Indonesia-China joint statement and some of its possible legal and political implications. Check this out!
Therefore conducting joint development with China would be tantamount to validating its South China Sea claims, a move that would be completely contrary to Indonesia’s interests.
Nonetheless, China unilaterally insists that Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf off the coast of Natuna Island overlaps China’s so-called “nine-dash line” claim.
Indonesia has consistently objected to China’s claim. The 2016 international tribunal ruling, which confirmed that China’s “nine-dash line” has no legal basis under international law supports Indonesia’s position.
This is the specific statement on the Joint Statement which specifically recognized Indonesia has an overlapping claim with China. Based on what?! China is surely far beyond 200nm EEZ and 350nm continental shelf claim allowed under UNCLOS!
Under international law, Indonesia is entitled to sovereign rights over its EEZ in the waters surrounding Natuna Island, and entitled to the resources in the area.