Visits Koarmada I Headquarters, TNI Commander Learns The Navy's Strength

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JAKARTA - The Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General TNI Andika Perkasa visited the Ocean Guards Soldier Headquarters at the Fleet I Command Headquarters in Jakarta. General Andika learns more about the strength of the Indonesian Navy.

The visit to the Fleet I Command Headquarters was a follow-up to the TNI Commander after hearing the explanation from the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy, Admiral Yudo Margono, last month.

"This visit is a form of the TNI Commander's seriousness to find out more about the Navy," said the Information Service of the Indonesian Navy, as quoted from a written broadcast quoted by Antara, Monday, December 20.

At the Koarmada I Headquarters, the TNI Commander inspected the KRI Mako Koarmada I platform and heard the explanation from the Commander of the First Army Command, Rear Admiral Arsyad Abdullah regarding the current security situation in the North Natuna Sea.

Andika on his visit to the Headquarters of Koarmada I received an explanation from the Commander of Koarmada I regarding the readiness of defense equipment in the working area of Koarmada I.

Koarmada I is tasked with guarding the waters of the western part of Indonesia, whose territory covers 1.3 million square meters of waters that are directly bordered by 5 countries. Koarmada I is also responsible for the Indonesian Archipelagic Sea Lane (ALKI) I and the Malacca Strait.

After hearing the explanation of the Commander of the Armed Forces I, the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces listened to the explanation of the Operation Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Kogabwilhan) I First Admiral TNI Ariantyo Conndrowibowo.

He explained to the TNI Commander the role and function of Kogabwilhan I in securing the North Natuna Sea.

The waters are the southern end of the South China Sea which was claimed by the Chinese government this month.

According to China, the North Natuna Sea is part of its traditional territorial waters as defined by the nine-dash line. Therefore, China this month asked Indonesia to stop offshore oil drilling activities in the North Natuna Sea.

However, the Indonesian government is subject to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) which stipulates that the southern tip of the South China Sea is part of the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Indonesian government named the waters the North Natuna Sea in 2017.