JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – The head of Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), Vice Admiral TNI Irvansyah, has confirmed that the Chinese Coast Guard has been cooperative and has refrained from entering Indonesian waters in the North Natuna Sea.

Irvansyah assured that there have been no incidents involving Chinese Coast Guard vessels that have disrupted Indonesian activities in the region.

“So far, there have been no more Chinese Coast Guard vessels entering the area,” he told state’s own media ANTARA, on Monday

during an interview at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs in Jakarta.

“Yes, they have been cooperative,” he added.

Bakamla’s patrol vessels continue to conduct regular patrols in the North Natuna Sea throughout the year, ensuring security in this vital maritime region.

Irvansyah emphasized that Bakamla has long been committed to strengthening its patrol fleet, particularly in strategic areas.

“We need to reinforce key maritime corridors, such as the Malacca Strait, the North Natuna Sea, and Ambalat,” he said.

The recent incident involving the expulsion of a Chinese Coast Guard ship last month marked the first of its kind in 2024. Bakamla vessels KN Pulau Dana-323 and KN Tanjung Datu were involved in pushing out Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5402 from Indonesia’s jurisdictional waters in the North Natuna Sea, an area within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The Chinese vessel had been interfering with seismic survey activities conducted by Indonesian state oil company Pertamina, using the vessel MV Geo Coral. Bakamla emphasized that it would continue to closely monitor activities in the area to ensure that seismic surveys are carried out without disruption.

In its official statement, Bakamla reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining order and ensuring maritime security in Indonesia’s strategic waters.

The North Natuna Sea, located within the South China Sea, is part of Indonesia’s EEZ, but China claims sovereignty over the area based on its controversial “nine-dash line” claim, which overlaps with Indonesia’s territorial waters. (Uki Ruknuddin)

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