On Monday (October 21), the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency expelled a Chinese Coast Guard ship that entered the North Natuna Sea area, which is Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone, and stated that the Chinese vessel had disrupted Indonesian personnel conducting earthquake surveys. When the Maritime Agency attempted to contact the Chinese Coast Guard ship, the ship insisted that the area fell under Chinese jurisdiction and was subsequently expelled by Indonesia.
The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) issued a press release on Wednesday (October 23), stating that they expelled a Chinese Coast Guard ship (CCG5402) on Monday for entering the Indonesian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea near the Riau Islands without permission.
The statement indicated that the Chinese Coast Guard ship continued to interfere with seismic survey operations conducted by employees of the Indonesian state-owned oil company Pertamina on board the MV Geo Coral vessel.
At the time, the seismic survey operation of the MV Geo Coral vessel was escorted by three ships: UB Anugerah Bersama 17, AHT PSB Roller, and TB Teluk Bajau Victory. Subsequently, the KN Tanjung Datu 301 patrol boat headed to the area and spotted the Chinese Coast Guard ship around 5:30 AM.
The Indonesian Maritime Agency stated: “The patrol boat tried to communicate with the vessel via radio, but the Chinese Coast Guard ship insisted that the area fell under Chinese jurisdiction. Around 5:38 AM, with the assistance of the Navy patrol ship KRI Sutedi Senaputera 378 and a maritime patrol aircraft, the KN Tanjung Datu 301 successfully expelled the Chinese Coast Guard ship from Indonesian waters.”
The Indonesian Maritime Agency stated that they will continue to patrol and intensively monitor the North Natuna Sea area to ensure that seismic exploration operations are not disrupted and to uphold Indonesia’s sovereignty.
According to the Jakarta Post, on September 11, the KN Tanjung Datu 301 patrol boat also expelled five Chinese-flagged fishing boats near Batam Island. A report from the Batam Island Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) revealed that these vessels were waiting to enter the port of Singapore and had anchored without permission.
Indonesia is not a claimant country in the South China Sea sovereignty dispute, but China’s “nine-dash line” claim encompasses Indonesia’s Natuna Islands EEZ, leading to overlapping claims. China’s newly released map last year also covered the North Natuna Islands area claimed by both Indonesia and Beijing. Former Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi emphasized that drawing lines or making any claims must comply with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).