The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Calls The RI-China Maritime Cooperation Plan According To The Rules, Not Meaning Of Confession Of Claims "9-Dash-Lines"

President Xi Jinping when welcoming President Prabowo. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs ensures that the cooperation plan between China (RRT) and Indonesia is carried out within the corridors of applicable regulations, and cannot be interpreted as recognition of claims "9-Dash-Lines".

In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote, in line with the spirit of the Declaration of the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea which had been agreed upon by ASEAN countries and RRT in 2022 and efforts to create peace in the South China Sea, Indonesia and China agreed to form maritime cooperation.

"This cooperation is expected to be a model of efforts to maintain peace and friendship in the Region," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, Monday, November 11.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is known to have made a working visit to China on 8-10 November. On this occasion, President Prabowo held a number of meetings, including with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two countries agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in a number of fields.

In a joint statement by RI-Chingkok issued by Beijing on November 9, one of the plans for cooperation between the two countries was carried out in the maritime sector.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that this cooperation is expected to cover various aspects of economic cooperation, especially in the field of fisheries and fisheries conservation in the Region based on the principles of mutual respect and equality.

"This cooperation will also be carried out in the corridor of the provisions of the respective laws and regulations," said the ministry.

"For Indonesia, of course, this cooperation must be carried out based on a number of related laws and regulations, including those that regulate the region; law on the ratification of the international maritime agreement, especially the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea; as well as ratification of bilateral agreements on the legal status of waters or maritime boundaries. ; regulations on maritime planning as well as conservation and management of fisheries, taxation and various other provisions," he explained.

In addition, the ministry said all international obligations and other contracts made by Indonesia related to the region would not be affected and would continue to apply without change.

"This cooperation cannot be interpreted as a recognition of the claim of "9-Dash-Lines". Indonesia reiterated its position so far that these claims do not have an international legal basis and do not comply with the 1982 UNCLOS. Thus, this cooperation has no impact on sovereignty, sovereign rights, or Indonesian jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea," the ministry stressed.

He added that Indonesia also believes that this collaboration will encourage the completion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea which can create stability in the region.

It is known, China claims almost the entire South China Sea with the so-called nine cut-off lines, which overlap with the exclusive economic zones of other plaintiffs, namely Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

The 2016 arbitration court's decision, which Beijing does not recognize, overturned China's claim to the strategic waters.