Defeated With Singapore, Indonesia As An Archipelagic Country Is Considered Not Yet Maritime-Oriented

JAKARTA - Professionals in the Field of Archipelago Insights and National Resilience Institutions, Rear Admiral TNI (Purn) Estu Prabowo, said Indonesia geopolitically benefited greatly from taking control of the global economy.

But the problem is, Indonesia as an island nation has not fully thought and behaved maritimely.

In a webinar discussion titled Exploration of Indonesia's Potential Excellence in Geostrategic Mapping of Regions and Cross-Regions, Monday, May 24, Estu cited Bung Karno's first lecture at National Resilience Institutions of Republic of Indonesia (Lemhanas RI) on May 20, 1965, on geopolitics. Where it says "One cannot build a strong national defense, one cannot build a strong nation, as a strong nation, if not by knowledge".

"Therefore geopolitics is important", Estu said.

He explained, Indonesia is an archipelago country located in a strategic cross position with a land area of 2.01 million KM2, 3.25 million KM2 of sea area 1 main chokepoint namely Malaka Strait and 3 secondary chokepoints, namely the Lombok Strait, Sunda Strait, and Makassar Strait.

"This is the space of our lives that we must take advantage of, how to aim for development and defense interests in defending the national interest", he said.

"Now the problem is, does the Indonesian nation really understand about this so that it is implemented in various development policies?", continued Estu.

He said there are 8 global choke points, are important straits that will connect regions of the world, and are vital for various countries. One of them is the Malaka Strait, and Indonesia is the part that connects the Asia Pacific region.

"When viewed by the world's oil routes, the Malaka Strait plays an important role, it is the second busiest chokepoint in the world. If we look at the tragic picture in the Malaka Strait we can see so dense the picture that exists in the Malaka Strait, meaning it has the potential for economic development as well as the potential threat of maritime security in the Strait of Singapore", said Estu.

It is an important record of half the world's oil flow and one-third of a trade by sea through the Malaka Strait.

"What does it mean now that we want to take advantage of this? This potential for economic progress, in particular, ensures maritime security in the Malaka Strait and the Singapore Strait", he said.

Estu also detailed mobility in the Strait of Malaka where the number of transits per day reaches 260-275 ships of various sizes, especially large container-sized vessels. If in transit per year ships passing through the Malaka Strait and Singapore Strait approximately 95,000-100,000 ships per year of various sizes. Container ships 30 percent, tankers 29 percent.

"What are the main issues for the 3 coastal states? Is maritime security important to ensure the smooth world trade traffic between the Indian and Pacific oceans", Estu said.

To be aware, maritime security is a risk and threat to the sovereignty of the country as well as maritime commercial interests derived from the maritime domain.

Maritime security emerged in the wake of the 2004 USS Cole attack on An American ship. Since then, the various piracy that occurred in Somalia including the Strait of Malaka has given rise to new ideas on maritime security issues.

There are two maritime security issues, the first hard issues include terrorism, piracy, and arms smuggling.

"Piracy in the early 2000s in the Malaka Strait was very disturbing and alarming to the user state. Like America, Japan where its fleet of tankers and container ships crossed. The disruption was very high because at the same time how the Free Aceh movement and its wings were seeking funds to carry out the struggle by committing piracy and piracy at that time", he explained

"So in the 2000s the Malaka Strait and Singapore could be said to be red zones for world trade", he said.

Meanwhile, soft issues are illegal and unregulated fishing, marine environmental issues, and migrants.

Estu also explained efforts to maintain security in the Malaka Strait. In 2004 the Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI) was proposed by the US but rejected by Indonesia and Malaysia.

"Because we know a variety of foreign policies, especially the US to keep its interests everywhere. Considered detrimental and disruptive to the sovereignty of coastal countries, especially Indonesia and Malaysia. Singapore does not refuse about RSMI", he said.

Another effort was the Malsindo operation (Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia) in 2004. "So to reject RSMI, 3 coastal countries formed joint operations or patrols to suppress piracy in the Malaka Strait and the Singapore Strait", he said.

Then related to the economic aspects in the Malaka Strait. Despite its strategic location, said Estu, Indonesia has not gained optimal economic benefits from the Malaka Strait.

This was because the Indonesian ports on the banks of Malaka Strait were unable to compete with the ports of Malaysia and Singapore. Second, Indonesia does not have a hub port in the Malaka Strait.

In addition, Belawan Port in the Strait of Malaka on the Indonesian side only recorded TEU traffic performance of 503,000 in 2018, and the port was not as in international shipping.

"Compared to Singapore which is in the 6th position has a total of 49,626 ships. While Indonesia which is in the position of 24 only has 8,528 units as a maritime country. Very far with Singapore which is a small country size, even bigger Batam", he explained.

This, Estu added, shows that Indonesia has not been maritimely oriented.

"Singapore is in a cross position he makes the most of Geostrategic and develops it by relying on his position. But Singapore doesn't have any natural resources", he said.

"Therefore we must question our maritime inability, if compared to Singapore we lag far behind. It's us as an island nation that is said to be maritime but not maritime behavior", Estu said.