In bid to defend sovereignty, Indonesia plans to change name of South China Sea to Natuna Sea

[BoQ77]

In bid to defend sovereignty, Indonesia plans to change name of South China Sea to Natuna Sea
The plan would involve renaming the sea surrounding the Natuna Islands, which lie to the northwest of the Indonesian part of Borneo, within their 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 18 August, 2016, 10:59am
UPDATED : Thursday, 18 August, 2016, 10:59am
Comments: 2

In a bid to maintain its sovereignty in the region, Indonesia announced on Wednesday evening that it will seek to change the name of the South China Sea to the Natuna Sea in the area within 200 miles of its Natuna Islands.

Ahmad Santosa, the Chief of Task Force 115, an agency combating illegal fishing, said the proposal will “be given to the United Nations”, adding that “if no one objects ... then it will be officially the Natuna Sea”.

The plan would involve renaming the sea surrounding the Natuna Islands, which lie to the northwest of the Indonesian part of Borneo, within their 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

The islands’ mayor, Hamid Rizal, said the change was aimed at helping people to understand that section of the sea belongs to Indonesia, and to help fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Indonesian waters.

On Wednesday, Indonesian Independence Day, authorities sank 60 vessels – 58 foreign boats and two domestic vessels – because of such fishing. Most of these were in the Natuna area, which is often claimed by China as a traditional fishing ground.

The same day, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Susi Pudjiastuti, said “my ministerial role is dealing with fish and all natural resources from the sea. I do not talk about sovereignty of political territories. I am talking about sovereignty over fish and ocean marine resources. As long as the fish are swimming in Indonesia’s EEZ, they are Indonesian fish. If someone takes it from there, it is illegal.”

Susi added that Indonesia only has a fishing rights agreement with Malaysia in the Malacca Strait. She highlighted that Indonesia does not recognise any traditional fishing ground, referring to Chinese claims in Natuna’s waters.

Since December 2014, Susi’s ministry has sunk 236 vessels.

The vessels are left to become artificial reefs for fish. However, five of them will become a monument in Pangandaran, West Java. Next to the monument, Susi’s ministry will make the International Maritime Museum, assisted by the United States and Norway.

Besides sinking the ships, Susi also held a groundbreaking ceremony for a detention centre for illegal fishing on Indonesia’s Independence Day. The building will have a capacity of 300 to 500 people, and is estimated to be finished before the end of 2016.

To develop the Natuna Islands, Indonesia will also build an integrated fisheries area, which will include a 200 tonne cold storage capacity.

The South China Sea has been the site of numerous clashes over territorial claims, with China asserting its claim more aggressively in recent months with extensive land reclamation and building of military facilities on reefs and islands in the sea.

China’s claim to much of the sea overlaps land claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, and also overlaps Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone around the Natuna Islands.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague recently ruled that China’s claim was invalid, and that it had caused irreparable damage to the marine environment in the region.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Man, are you pissing off all your neighbors.

If this goes on the way it is, you are only weaving a web of self-containment for yourselves. @AndrewJin @Shotgunner51

 

[Star Wars]

Man, are you pissing off all your neighbors.

If this goes on the way it is, you are only weaving a web of self-containment for yourselves. @AndrewJin @Shotgunner51

Chinese new found power is making them increasingly arrogent, or the energy situation in China is so dire that they are desperate for the resources in Natuna sea

 

[kankan326]

Is Natuna a bunch of islands? People don't name sea by small island in it.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

Chinese new found power is making them increasingly arrogent, or the energy situation in China is so dire that they are desperate for the resources in Natuna sea

Nothing to do with energy.

They are getting increasingly arrogant. Plus they are just not good at public diplomacy.

A benefit of democracy is that you become masters at public diplomacy, and soft power. China knows neither public diplomacy, propaganda, or soft power.

Is Natuna a bunch of islands? People don't name sea by small island in it.

There is no well set convention on naming of seas.

People can name by whatever they like.

So, if China keeps pissing off people at this rate, there is a good probability that people will just change the name of South China Sea altogether.

Chinese new found power is making them increasingly arrogent, or the energy situation in China is so dire that they are desperate for the resources in Natuna sea

In a democracy, the political survival of all politicians depends on public diplomacy, propaganda, and information warfare. That is the only warfare our politicians have mastered.

 

[Huan]

I think China should object to this. If Beijing gives any opposition an inch, they will ask for a mile. China should remain firm just like a big superpower would.

 

[Bussard Ramjet]

I think China should object to this. If Beijing gives any opposition an inch, they will ask for a mile. China should remain firm just like a big superpower would.

No big superpower though can take on the whole world.

Right now, China has pissed too many countries in the region. The combined strength of those countries approaches that of China.

 

[BoQ77]

one vote from me : for Natuna Sea

 

[Nibiru]

That way, Indonesia is participating in SCS conflict.

 

[bolo]

I think China should object to this. If Beijing gives any opposition an inch, they will ask for a mile. China should remain firm just like a big superpower would.

most likely they will object.

And that counts as one UNSC vote.

But seriously, this name change is as consequential as Peter C changing his name to Hamartia
Antidote.

if china doesn't object than china is weak

 

[GerhardA]

That way, Indonesia is participating in SCS conflict.

Indonesia is already involved because chinese fishermen and coast guard ships keep fucking around in our EEZ eventhough their government promised not to.

 

[Nibiru]

Indonesia is already involved because chinese fishermen and coast guard ships keep fucking around in our EEZ eventhough their government promised not to.

Yes, but Indonesia has no chance to win the confrontation in SCS.

 

[GerhardA]

Yes, but Indonesia has no chance to win the confrontation in SCS.

Alone maybe not. But together with other ASEAN countries and maybe US. We do have a chance.

 

[xiao qi]

Alone maybe not. But together with other ASEAN countries and maybe US. We do have a chance.

It reminds me old Chinese tactic :合縱 Every country only did for their interests, unite to prevent Chinese, one word: difficult. Chinese will lure their ally with some gifts, and Some countries will turn back their head to China.

 

[hoangsa74]

asean is a ghetto league: viet kong, phil, Indonesia, all 3 claimants' military forces and industrial capabilities are too WEAK and BACKWARD to do anything. The outcome of the scs conflict will be decided by the three big powers: U.S, Japan, and Australia. Once the dust is settled, the Paracels and Spratlys, and maybe some part of Hainan will be controlled by those powers.